News release - Grand Forks public hearing

Calls for change dominate

A desire to reform BC’s electoral system characterized a lively public hearing in Grand Forks Monday night.  More than 50 British Columbians engaged in a discussion with members of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform, many calling for a greater degree of proportionality and increased representation of women and minority groups in the Legislature. 

“People have decided that their votes simply do not count in the current system,” said Barbie Kalmakoff.  “I have four children and I want their votes to count; I want them to vote.”  Kalmakoff advocated a more proportional electoral system, suggesting that women and minority groups should be better represented than they are today.

Speaking in favour of the mixed member proportional (MMP) system, Scott Leyland said, “Most people in BC think that the current electoral system is unrepresentative and encourages governments that are dysfunctional.”  Diana Carr added, “I like the flexibility offered in MMP so that I can vote for my favorite party but also a candidate from another party to represent me locally.”   And Ray Gaudart felt that MMP would reduce voter alienation, particularly among younger people.

Ron Liddle also backed MMP as the best way to achieve a more inclusive electoral system.  He asserted that proportional representation by the single transferable vote (PR-STV) was “too complicated” for British Columbians to readily support.  David Pehota, however, supported PR-STV, saying it best “links power to consent” and offered voters maximum choice.  The current electoral system is “broken beyond repair,” he said.  “It is an 18th century election model for a 21st century world.” 

Calling for change, Andre Carrel said he would be in favour of anything but the current, first-past-the-post electoral system. “We vote to express our displeasure with what has happened in the past rather than voting to express a vision for the future.”

The next public hearings are in Fort Nelson, Quesnel and Nelson on Tuesday (May 11), Fort St. John on Wednesday (May 12) and Dawson Creek on Thursday (May 13).

A full schedule of hearings – as well as information on how to sign up to make a presentation – is on the Assembly’s website at www.citizensassembly.bc.ca.

The Assembly is an independent, representative, non-partisan group of 160 randomly selected British Columbians. They must decide by December 15 whether to propose a change to BC’s electoral system. If they recommend a change, it will be the subject of a referendum for all voters in the May 2005 provincial election.