Submission BRICK-0763 (Online)

Thank you for the opportunity to provide my ideas. We need a type of proportional representation [PR] as we are a society that has grown out of the first past the post system. We are more connected and we should all play a more active role in politics. But how can we? We vote and after that it doesn't matter what the pulse of the community is, our government with their "mandate" to do whatever they want especially in the first year or two. This is very obvious with the BC Liberals. I believe this is why there is voter apathy.

My suggestion is to come up with a mechanism that allows the public to be involved in the decision making during a government's terms. Someone suggested there be a referendum on any provincial spending past $500 million. 10 years ago we could vote on what movie we wanted to watch on tv (we were given 3 choices). While I often didn't get the movie I wanted, I was satisfied that the majority did -- there is a great sense of satisfaction in knowing you were involved in a totally fair process. If we can do it for something as unimportant as that surely we can do it for something as important as decisions that affect ours and our children's lives.

There would be opposition on the grounds that people are not up on the issues. That argument would not hold true for long if people felt they could affect that outcome (become empowered) they would become very knowledgeable very quickly and it would be debated among friends and family.

I would like to see web based referenda on a regular basis -- maybe just for polling purposes to see how the people felt and then that information would have to be considered. Or, having us vote on specific options with the govt having to accept the option with the most votes.

There is room for a Citizen's Assembly as well, for educating the public in a non-biased way.

Hopefully consideration of this is not out of your mandate!