I have been a small farmer for 45 years. My grandfather Nixon
settled our family farm in the Slocan valley in 1901. I have never
felt I was represented in the BC legislature. Through the years I
have been concerned about farming in a sustainable and ecological
manner, but all I see in government is two ideological factions at
war resulting in a waste of time, money and resources. Our farm is
taxed with no incentive to farm or extract timber from our woodlot
sustainably. Instead the mountainside part of our farm, which is
also our watershed, was removed from farm status and classed as
residential. We were told we could get our farm status back if we
clear-cut the timber and put livestock on it.
Two years ago I canvassed for the Pro Rep Initiative in the
Slocan valley, I am in favor of some form of Proportional
Representation. In particular I favor a Mixed Member Proportional
Representative [MMP] system similar to the one in New
Zealand. Under our present system at election time, candidates make
grandiose statements promising the “world”.
It is so ludicrous! I believe that with a MMP system each Party
could stick to their own planks. It would be so much more
realistic.
I would like the system to be set up so that the
MLA’s who represent Ridings could not be elected to
hold the position of Premier, or of Cabinet Minister. They then can
be more accountable to their constituents and further; there would
be no penalization for this.
Some issues should be brought to Referendum after the issue is
thoroughly presented to the voters and is clearly worded.
This electoral reform movement is finally coming about and I am
feeling very optimistic about it.
[Entered online from a scanned document]
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