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Submission TONNESEN-0195 (Online)

Submission ByMr Steve Tonnesen
AddressNew Hazelton, BC, Canada
Organization
Date20040416
CategoryElectoral system change
Abstract
I endorse a change in our electoral system to a mixed member proportional system. The combined goals of retaining local constituency representation while reflecting the proportion of votes won in the legislature, is the correct focus. [1 page]

Submission Content
I strongly endorse a change in our electoral system to a mixed member proportional system. The combined goals of retaining local constituency representation while reflecting the actual vote outcome in the makeup of the legislature is the correct focus.

I once believed that our "first past the post" plurality system was the best system for promoting stable goverments. What I have found instead, especially, it seems, in the British Columbian political scene, is that it provides a stable government only for the term of the goverment with wild swings in policy when governments change. Having coalition governments or even very narrow majority governments will force policies that are more in tune with the wishes of British Columbians as a whole and more long term stability lasting across administrations. I found the comment by one assembly member particularly amusing: that she found the word "stable" is more appropriately applied to our existing legislature in the form "stable of horses or mules".

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