News release - Queen Charlotte public hearing

Skidegate: Proportionality and political corruption discussed

Members of the Citizens’ Assembly heard speakers in Skidegate call for an added element of proportionality in the electoral system as well as decry political corruption.

“The (current) first-past-the-post system does not function effectively in today’s diverse multi-party democracy,” said Thomas Cheney, a young Messet resident.  “We need a more representative form of democracy in British Columbia.”

Cheney advocated a type of mixed member proportional system where over 50 per cent of the MLAs would be elected in ridings, while the rest would be assigned seats to achieve proportionality.  That is, these seats would be assigned to candidates from parties so the composition of the legislature would mirror the parties’ proportion of the popular vote.   He felt locally elected MLAs were needed to allow the views and voices of rural residents’ to be heard.

Gerry Johnson, from Port Clements, focused on suggestions that would “make it tough for political corruption.”   His view was that this corruption is the major reason voters are becoming increasingly apathetic.

This coming week, hearings move to the Interior – Princeton (Monday), Merritt (Tuesday), Lillooet (Wednesday), Kamloops (Thursday) and Williams Lake (Saturday).  Ganges, on Salt Spring Island, will also host a hearing next Saturday.  A full schedule of hearings is on the Assembly’s website at 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.