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Submission STOCCO-0536 (Online)

Submission By Denise Stocco
AddressVictoria, BC, Canada
Organization
Date20040601
CategoryElectoral system change
Abstract
I recommend a mixed proportional system [MMP], where electors cast two votes, each determining approximately half of the seats; one vote for the local candidate, and one vote for the party of his or her choice. [2 pages]

Submission Content
 

Submission to the Citizens’ Assembly

I believe in fair representation whereby parties receive seats in the Legislature proportional to the percentage of votes they get during the election.  Fairness also requires more gender equity to correct the disproportionate ratio of men to women. Fairness is not upheld within the first past the post electoral system which distorts election results 

  • giving exaggerated majorities in Parliament
  • giving government status to parties second in the popular vote
  • shutting out a huge number of voters.
I believe in accommodating the diversity of political voices that are part of the Canadian make up.   I also believe in negotiating our differences so that Canadians share their public space peacefully and ethically.  We need to acknowledge our differences, discuss them and negotiate how to accommodate them best so that peace, order, and good government are sustained.   With the dominance of one party, and party loyalty, many political voices are lost in the wilderness.  Decision making becomes influenced by the most vocal or moneyed interest groups. 

As Canadians, we are very fortunate to enjoy rights and know that they are respected.  I believe that responsibilities come with rights: To our family, community, country, the environment.  Unfortunately our media-consumer culture celebrates individual indulging.   (Please do not ask schools to fix one more societal problem.)   Changing the first past the post system will be child’s play compared to changing the prevalent culture.  Ideally people should earn the right to vote.  Making voting compulsory would be a step in the right direction.  

I believe in collaboration and in consensus building to find the best possible solutions while adhering to a set of ethical values, ie values which promote the social, economic and environmental well-being of the country.  The first past the post system encourages confrontation and polarization.

I believe in stable, long term planning government. Polarization and frequent changes of governments such as in B.C. are counterproductive to achieving these desirable results.

I believe in a democratic process for choosing Canada’s Prime Minister and Premiers.  They should be elected, not chosen by parties.    The present system allows individuals to hijack the process, as Mr. Paul Martin just did.  We now have a self-anointed Prime Minister who did not even debate within his own party. 

I believe in sustaining the integrity of the land.  We need to get away from the urban-rural polarization which exaggerates the weight of rural votes.  No matter where we live, cities, towns or countryside, we are all dependent on the land.  More than ever, we need to reconnect to the land which gives us our sustenance.  Our electoral system could support this reconnecting by establishing constituency boundaries that closely match ecological regions.   

Recommendations

I support

  • proportional representation
  • a mixed proportional system [MMP], where electors cast two votes, each determining approximately half of the seats; one vote for the local candidate, and one vote for the party of his choice, with a choice to rank his party’s candidates.
  • the election of Premiers and the Prime Minister
  • gender equity in representation
I recommend that we consider redrawing constituency boundaries to match ecological regions.

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