News release - Maple Ridge public hearing

“BC could be so much better”

William Walsh blamed the costs of dramatic policy changes instituted by successive governments – what he called the “yoyo effect" – for the province not living up to its tremendous natural potential.  “We can be so much better,” he said.  “We can be so much more.” 

Walsh suggested part of the solution might lie in an electoral system designed to achieve greater proportionality.  “The long-term vision of this province is lost with the pendulum effect,” he said. “If we had some of the smaller parties in the legislature, they might be able to raise a voice of reason.”  This, he suggested, would create a moderating effect and produce a long term vision for the province.

Robert Hornsey also identified swings in government policy as a costly consequence of the current electoral system.  While favouring more proportionality, he advised the Assembly to retain local representation.  “Let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water… Let’s keep the good things that work.”

Rick Benoit implored the Assembly “to think outside the box.”   His proposal relied on computers which would allow people to vote on any issue at any time.  He also suggested people should be able to vote for anyone they wished; the list of candidates would include everyone in the country willing to let their name stand “as long as they were Canadian.”   Furthermore, people should be able to change their vote at any time, in effect withdrawing their proxy from one representative and giving it to someone else.  The voting power of the representative would be proportionate to the number of votes, or proxies, he or she held.

While Robert Prince said he was all in favour of proportional representation, he didn’t care as much which kind.  Telling the Assembly that this was a “once-in-a-lifetime chance,” he admonished them to take the opportunity to fix the electoral system.

“The Citizens’ Assembly is the most exciting development that I’ve heard of in politics in the last 100 years,” Bruce Edwards stated.  He too supported a more proportional system which also incorporated local representatives.  

While most who spoke favoured greater proportionality in the electoral system, concerns were raised about the possible proliferation of parties in the legislature, barriers to independent candidates and party hacks populating the lists of candidates.  Others stated that they wanted to retain local representatives.

The next hearing will be Thursday (May 20) in Langley at the Hampton Inn, 19500 Langley Bypass, starting at 6:30pm.  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.