News release - Williams Lake hearing

Cure for voter apathy?

Proportional Representation was offered as a cure for voter apathy by two speakers at a public hearing Saturday, in Williams Lake, of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform.

Pat Adams said: "The current 'first past the post' (electoral) system is outdated and has created voter apathy. For example, in 2000, the voter turnout for the general election was only 61.2% of those eligible to vote.

"It is my contention that this is symptomatic of a population who has become disillusioned with voting primarily for a 'winner take all' party rather than an individual who would more truly represent their region and specific interests in the legislature."

And presenter John Pickford added: "I suggest that PR counters voter apathy and the fear of a wasted vote, which creates a disincentive to voting. We have lousy turnout, federally and provincially. I've read statistics from Europe where they get 70-90% turnout. That's where it should be."

Adams also offered PR as a means of ensuring women are better represented in numbers in the legislature.

"Currently in British Columbia, women only hold 19 of 79 seats. Clearly, then, something needs to be done to ensure that women are more adequately represented.

"Advocates of Proportional Representation see it not only as a more equitable system for women but also for minority groups and voters in general. Comparisons of electoral systems indicate that it is the most important variable for the representation of women and minority groups."

Bruce Mack endorsed a Mixed Member Proportional system, with mathematical formulas applied to the vote counts to ensure that MLAS who make it to the House are those with the highest level of voter support in their home areas.

The formulas would divide the candidate's margin of victory, or loss, by the number of voters in the riding. Winners would be determined by the ensuing ratios, not merely by who got the most votes.

Tom Salley also backed PR, but (like Adams and Pickford) did not specify any particular model.

"For me the best democracy is one that . . . creates healthy communities, communities of inclusion, synergy and understanding. The best form of democracy is the one that facilitates a voice for everyone in the decision-making process. To achieve the highest probability of that happening will require a form of democracy that includes proportional representation."

Victor Young pleaded with Assembly members to ensure that whatever system they recommend for B.C. will not further erode the power of people in rural ridings.

As urban areas grow, and rural populations shrink, he said, the urban dwellers become ever more dependent on the rural areas for food and resources.

"(But) the more indispensable our rural people become, the less say they have in how they are governed. . . . Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, our capital, are all in the southwest corner of the province and isolated from the rest of B.C."

Another public hearing, with a separate team of Assembly members, was held Saturday in Ganges on Salt Spring Island. The next hearings are in Vernon and Cranbrook on Monday night, followed by Revelstoke and Radium on Tuesday, Penticton and Sparwood on Wednesday and Kelowna (the last of 50 public hearings) on Thursday.

Details on these hearings are on the Assembly's website at www.citizensassembly.bc.ca. So is information on how to make a presentation at a hearing, or to send in a written submission.

The Citizens' 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.