Submission LIDDLE-0367 (Online)

I'd like to thank you for the careful way you are going about your task. When I heard that positions on the Citizens' Assembly were going to be assigned by means of a lottery, I told my wife that I would buy a 6/49 ticket that week so that if I was disappointed in my hope to participate in the Assembly, then at least we would have the consolation of a million dollars. But then we didn't win the million either. Anyway, even though I didn't get to work with you, I admire the work you are doing.

I'm speaking tonight in favour of the Assembly recommending and the Province of BC adopting a mixed member proportional [MMP] electoral system. I've voted NDP all of my life so far. The CCF/NDP has been disappointed and benefited from our single member plurality system but I have never considered it a fair system. I believe it creates a political culture that is more divisive and polarized than it needs to be. Too much political energy is spent pursuing ideological dreams and there is too little energy left over for the building of collaboration and fluid coalitions around the things that matter in the everyday lives of the people. A political party can go on for years never having to please more than between 38 and 50 or 55% of the decreasing number of people who decide to vote.

I believe that a mixed member proportional electoral system does the best job of assuring that the greatest number of citizens has the greatest chance to feel that their votes meant something in the outcome of the election. I believe that a MPP system will require more collaboration among the political parties. I like the experience of other countries that suggests more women and minority representatives will be elected with a MPP system.

The last time BC experimented in electoral reform was in 1952 and it was put in place out of cynical expedience and they were dropped the next year for the same poor reasons. You have the opportunity to recommend changes that reflect principles that lots of people can get excited about endorsing.