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Submission HALL-0002 (Scanned document)

Submission By Peter Hall
AddressVancouver, BC,
Organization
Date20030804
CategoryElectoral system change
Abstract
Ten seats should be added to the Legislative Assembly to be assigned to parties in proportion to their province wide vote at a general election [MMM].  This would remedy a number of current problems and provide a fairer outcome. [2 pages]

Submission Content
In the event that changes to the B.C. electoral system occur as the result of this exercise, and if any of these beneficial changes can be traced back to recommendations from individual persons, perhaps based on the earlier date of the formal communication of those ideas in the event of duplications, it would be a commendable act if those persons could be given prizes, or some other form of civic recognition for their contributions. This would be far superior to having the Reviewing Board assume unsupportable authorship for every good idea that is presented to them that they adopt.

With that thought in mind, I suggest the following. That the electoral system be kept essentially the way it is, with the exception that ten (10) new seats be added to the provincial assembly as “popular vote”, or “provincial” seats. These ten proposed seats would be automatically allocated following an election based entirely on the percentage of province-wide votes cast for the parties running, with numbers being rounded off to the nearest whole number. It would be up to the political parties as to whom they chose to fill the positions. There are several advantages to this plan.

1) It would free the leaders of the political parties from having two conflicting roles to play during an election where they now have to seek election both separately in their own constituencies and in the province as a whole.

2) It would mean that other political interests such as fringe parties that have considerable numerical support province-wide, but never enough in any single electoral district to elect an MLA, would now be able to send their own representatives to Victoria.

3) It would partially address the question of fairness where a losing party obtained a higher popular vote province-wide than the party that won the election.

4) It would reduce the impact of extreme one-party majorities instead of enhancing them.

In this system, it is essential that both types of MLA should have identical rights and responsibilities and that a vote from a “constituent” MLA should have no more, nor any less weight than one from a “provincial” MLA.

In the event that adding ten new members might be thought to make the Legislative Assembly too large, the number of electoral districts could be proportionally reduced by enlarging their voting areas. This would reduce the number of “constituent” MLAs who could be elected. Notably, at no time should the number of “provincial” seats be made more numerous than ten, and the number of “constituent” seats must remain sufficiently numerous not to be overpowered by the “provincial” seats

Only where the popular vote exceeds 20% is there any risk of an un-elected person becoming an MLA. This is because at 10%, it is presumably the well-publicized president of the party running who assumes the position of MLA. At 20% and 30%, the MLA positions would go to the nominees of the political party winning that popular vote. Theoretically, but unlikely, they could be given to people the voters knew nothing about. On the other hand, there is already in place the precedent of an un-elected president of a political party requiring an elected MLA to step down so he can take over his position.

It is hoped that these ideas will be considered in your deliberations.

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