Submission FOX-0461 (Online)

Our members favour a modified New Zealand-type MMP voting system in which each voter will have two votes; one for the constituency representative and one for a democratically selected party list, permitting voter choice within the list. [1 page]

We believe that, to the extent that Canada has moved away from a strict two-party system, FPTP has deprived large sections of the electorate of enjoying effective representation and involvement in the political life of the nation and of the province.

We respect the efforts of the Citizens' Assembly to address this issue by consulting the people of BC over a reasonable period of time, and by providing valuable background information to facilitate the process.

Our Chapter enthusiastically supports a form of proportional representation which will remedy the unacceptable deficiencies of FPTP by empowering greater local choice and by encouraging a broader representation including
more women and minorities in candidate rosters.
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Our members favour a modified New Zealand-type MMP voting system in which each voter will have two votes; one for the constituency representative and one for an "open" party list.

Political parties would be required by law to select list candidates democratically, and to file with Elections BC a detailed description of how their party's selection system operates.

Ideally, such a list system would provide voters with the option of either endorsing the party "slate or ticket" or of indicating a preference for a candidate within the list.