I think that there are three essentials required to end the
undemocratic system as has presently evolved in BC (and
Canada):
-
Fixed Election Dates.
-
Proportional Representation (I would like to add my support for
the New Zealand model of proportional representation, MMP).
-
A Leadership Vote (directly or indirectly).
1. Fixed Election Dates
Some parties (notably the Federal Liberals) want flexible timing
to manipulate their control over elections by juggling the timing
of an election to provide themselves with a major built-in
advantage over the non-incumbent or the smaller parties. This is
definitely not a level playing field!
This feature also allows a party member (MP or MLA) to vote against
his own party if legislation is proposed that goes against election
promises, or the party's principles.
In BC we currently have a fixed election date, and it is essential
that this feature be kept in a revised system.
2. Proportional Representation
It seems this would be the best way in which the average citizen
could feel that their vote is worth casting. I myself am at the
point of not bothering to vote, since the results are ALWAYS
undemocratic.
The current system is very much like a dictatorship where the
opposition, the general public, or even the governing party's own
MLA's, have no way of influencing legislation or policies which a
determined leader wants, which then become the laws.
Even though I supported the current BC government, how can any
country call itself a democracy when winning 58% of the votes gains
97% of the seats in power? Although I disagree with the policies of
the small parties such as the Green Party, they may represent a
significant percentage of the population, and yet have no hope of
gaining ANY representation with the current 'first-past-the-post'
system. It is a tribute to those voters who continue to vote for
the smaller parties even though their votes are in truth thrown
away, never to be heard of again, after they are counted and
reported.
One objection that one hears about the MMP system, is that the
parties will appoint many of the candidates who become MLA's. This
is really no different from the current system as it is developing
in our (undemocratic) Canada now. Each party's list of selected
candidates would be available and subject to a person's judgment
during an election, and the overall quality of ALL their
candidates, and their LEADERS would be an issue in an election.
A further very serious threat to our democratic representation
would also be muted, the growing tendency of certain groups to
stuff the candidate selection meetings at the last moment to get
their candidate elected to represent the party in an upcoming
election. It would be in the interests of a party to not allow last
minute signups because their list of candidates would be (or should
be) subject to public scrutiny as part of the election. How the
parties selected their candidates, and the overall quality of ALL
their candidates would be an issue in an election.
Another objection one hears about the MMP system is that
legislation is delayed or scrapped because a majority of the groups
can't agree. This is as it should be; at present, parties with less
that 50% get a majority government and ram through their agendas
(often quite different from their election promises).
The Federal Liberals got 60% of the seats with 40% of the vote,
which was only 60% of the eligible voters. In effect, that is a
majority government with 24% of the eligible voters, set up by
manipulating the size and locations of the ridings. No wonder
people are not bothering to vote! An MMP system might greatly
increase the % of eligible voters who do vote, particularly amongst
the younger voter population.
3. Leadership Vote
I would also prefer to have the right to vote for the Premier
directly, because this is a very powerful position in most
governing systems; however, I recognize that this is difficult in a
system without an executive.
Many people claim to vote mainly for the local candidate, a
position I find rather amazing, given the almost total lack of
input from even the members (MLA's or MP's) of the governing party,
if a leader is determined to exclude them.
At least with an MMP system you would be at least indirectly voting
for the premier, as you are casting a vote to determine the level
of power a party ends up with (e.g., the number of seats and
therefore the amount of influence the leader has).
If the ballot had the party's name and the leader's name, in
addition to the name of the local candidate, one would be
considering the leader as well as the local candidate, as one cast
their vote.
I would like to finish by expressing my appreciation for the time
and effort of the members of the Citizen's Assembly.