Submission WOODWORTH-1200 (Online)

MMP will correct the undemocractic features of FPTP, will allow citizens to experience true democratic engagement, and will serve as a first-step in the ongoing process that electoral reform inevitably is. [3 pages]

Abstract: MMP will correct the undemocractic features of FPTP, will allow citizens to experience true democratic engagement, and will serve as an understandable straightforward first-step in the ongoing process that electoral reform inevitably is.

INTRODUCTION

The people of B.C. are incredibly fortunate to have the present opportunity for reviewing and renewing how their votes translate into seats in the legislature.

It is novel for most of us to realize that voting systems in themselves are less or more democratic. This is the basic point British Columbians need to comprehend before encountering the world of electoral possibilities. The main reference point B.C. citizens have in this process is "how best to correct the undemocratic features of our present FPTP system".

While FPTP served us relatively well as long as we had a two-party system (for which it was designed), it cannot serve the multi-party circumstances of diversity of today. Almost any other electoral system would serve us better than the way FPTP is malfunctioning now.

However, electoral reform is never a one-shot deal: it is an ongoing process that begins with a first step, that necessarily involves surprises, and that eventually can be tailored to suit B.C.'s variously populated landscape.

We are at the first-step phase, and we cannot possibly achieve now what step-ten might be several decades from now. Election after election, we will be able to fine-tune our electoral choices to the point where we all feel they serve us well. But step-one is perhaps the most difficult step of all because it is all so new and we've had our system so long. It is still news to many many B.C. citizens that there is a great variety of electoral systems, not just the one we've always used.

As Assembly members elucidated to a most appreciative West Vancouver Council, there are more electoral systems than there are democracies. This is big big news for British Columbians, and the main reason for the great variety is that an electoral system is much like a garment: it can be designed to fit the particular needs of any unique political circumstances, even as these change over time. But we don't even know what cloth to start with yet, and it is essential that step-one be relatively easy and straightforward (a) to understand, (b) to execute, and (c) to see the results of.

"WHAT KIND OF VOTING SYSTEM DO (YOU / I / WE) WANT IN B.C.?"

We need a voting system in which the flaws of pure FPTP are eliminated.

The goal here is the essence of democracy: how best to provide for as many citizens as possible to feel as constructively engaged in decision-making as the members of the Citizens' Assembly have come to feel.

The Assembly members know all too well the steep learning curve that confronts the average citizen on first learning even a little about electoral reform. Having experienced a relatively long and studious adventure in democracy, what does each of the members feel would be the most direct, most comfortable, and most expedient way for B.C.'s citizens to take a first step in some truly democratic renewal? For my own part, I would like to hear from each and every Assembly Member regarding their unique experiences and perspectives from their qwon constituencies. We do not hear from one another enough, and if we want to revitalize our democracy, let's start by letting people who have played a truly representative role in a vital process tell us how their ridings see things. The story may well be different from B.C.'s different regions.

For now, given the array of possible voting systems, from relatively straightforward to highly refined and complex, are we not looking for one that would best:

I believe the most straightforward way to go is to keep some of what we already have (geographical ridings) and add the supplementary List PR to provide for popular-vote proportionality. Citizens can readily understand having two votes as well as having the popular vote contribute directly to representation in the legislature.

I'm afraid we could botch this wonderful opportunity for real democratic change by recommending an exceptionally complex system that takes an expert to understand. MMP will give us what we need now, and as people come to understand the complexities of electoral choices, they will be ready to embrace more change in the future. Please give B.C.'s population the time and opportunity to get their minds around all the new possibilities / concepts that considering almost any change will entail (two votes, proportionality, coalition, open/closed lists, preferential voting, single and multi-member ridings etc).

If only we can get to step-one, there's likely no doubt that in the future we will continue to bring improvements to our system. We might want preferential voting for both the riding candidates and the List candidates. The question here is "How much change is too much change for a politically turned-off (rightfully) population to accept?" We cannot do everything at once -- we can take only one step at a time. Electoral reform is not a one-shot deal.