The Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform
Dear friends,
I have been in correspondence with Gordon Gibson regarding the
“Voting System – Cost
of overnment”. He asked me to convey to you
my thoughts on this, as it might be helpful in your deliberations
of finding a workable solution to fair representation of the
citizens of Bc in Government.
I was brought up in Switzerland and because of my dual
Canadian/Swiss citizenship I am still allowed to participate in
federal elections in Switzerland. Most of my adult life I have
worked under “Westminster Type of
Governments” (Sri Lanka and Canada). I have
participated in various forums in Canada dealing with fair
representation in Parliament.
I feel that I have a good knowledge and background on this
issue. The real secret behind Switzerland’s
success in governing the country (4 official languages, several
religions, urban and rural priorities, no natural resources, etc.
etc.) is the institution of facultative referendums on laws passed
in Parliament. Once a law is passed by both houses of Parliament
(similar to Canada), there is a 3 months period during which
50’000 signatures can be collected by groups of
citizens who disagree with all or some aspects of such law. If they
can get this support, then the law must be put to a valid vote of
its citizens. If citizens accept the law it will be promulgated, if
they reject it, it will not become valid. It either goes back to
Government, or Parliament for amendments, or it is abandoned (and
no Parlimentarian has to resigns because of such rejection).
Parliamentarians, who debate and decide on laws, must always
keep in mind that such law might be subject to a referendum, i.e.
is acceptable to the majority of its citizen. This clearly
demonstrates that they are accountable at all times to its citizens
and not only once in four years at election time.
Needless to say that proportional voting systems normally result
in coalition governments, where a majority of its citizens are
represented in Government and not a minority as usual under the
“Westminster Type” of Government. This
makes law making and governing less adversarial and everybody can
contribute to a good solution. Good ideas are not rejected outright
on principal just because they come from the opposition!
An elected Senate (two representatives from each
province/canton, one each from the territories) will safeguard the
jurisdictions of the various governments (Federal, Provincial,
Municipal) because they will reject any law that encroaches on
their jurisdictions. Such separation of jurisdictions also helps to
reduce the cost of government, because it eliminates overlappings.
Some reports indicate that in Canada one employed person out of
five is paid by Government (out of tax dollars), whereas in
Switzerland with firm separation of jurisdictions it is one person
out of twenty!
Personally I would like to see a pure proportional voting system
(one person one vote) for both the House of Commons, the Senate and
the provincial legislatures, with possibly a few House of
Commons/Provincial Legislature seats for areas grossly under
populated with rich mineral resources and where necessary
safeguarding aboriginal representation. I hope that my above views
will be taken into consideration in your deliberations
Yours sincerely
Jakob Knaus
levelCMS