Submission LAU-0047 (Online)

It is my contention that our provincial system suffers from the sidelining of MLAs who are not empowered by the premier or leader of the opposition.

The party whip system as it works in BC does not encourage individual MLAs to respond to the needs of their ridings as much as the needs of the leader to secure more power over the legislative assembly.

I suggest that with each election, a vote is cast for the next representative as is described in the Elections Act; but to ensure that MLAs have the authority and interest to defend the needs of their contituents, the voters should cast a second vote. This should be a ranking of how the incumbent MLA has performed according to the needs of the riding. This rating as a percentage should be tabulated and then the final math should designate the percentage of the allowable pension they are entitled to recieve for that period they represented the riding. For example, if the constituents rate an MLA at 50%, the MLA should recieve 50% of their allowable pension. The math is not arguable but it should effect a noticeable change in how services are dispensed in constituency offices across the provinces.  Hopefully, it will foster stronger alliances across party lines to respond to regional and other legitimate interests which can and are overlooked by caucus. This sort of solution will encourage the backbencher to speak out and speak up where regional issues are in jeopardy, and offset the fear of being disciplined by the whip and losing opportunity to take part in lucrative caucus and board roles which pay stipends, which have a potentially and debatably undemocratic effect on legislative life.