News release - Cranbrook public hearing

Go slow Assembly told

A variety of viewpoints and concerns were discussed at a public hearing in Cranbrook Monday evening.  Members of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform heard pleas for more proportionality, stronger constituency representation for rural areas, and a ballot that allows voters to rank their preferences. 

A note of caution was sounded by William Hills, of Cranbrook.  Although a long-time proponent of proportional representation, he urged the Assembly to “go slow”.  His concern was the lack of openness and democratic process within political parties and in the selection of candidates. 

Hills told the hearing that you have to be 18 to vote in an election, but only 14 to elect a candidate; you must be a Canadian citizen to vote, but not to elect a candidate; you have to reside in the riding to vote, but not to elect a candidate.  “Simply put, I do not want 14-year-olds and … non-citizens … to participate in any party’s selection of who will sit in the legislature.”

“Political parties today are far too powerful,” Hills said. “Parties and their activities simply must be put under laws and government regulation; otherwise, proportional representation simply transfers more power over government to private parties.” 

William Latter, Lloyd Hodge and Carol Patton were more confidant that injecting proportional representation into the electoral system would provided greater fairness and needed change.  “It’s pretty clear it’s time for a change,” stated Hodge.  “A vote is the ultimate expression in a democracy,” added Latter.  “Please, please do not end the Assembly without a recommendation for an equitable voting system such as mixed member proportional representation.”

Vine Matter, provided the Assembly with a written statement that also supported increased proportionality.  “It may not be perfect, it may be slightly more complicated, but the end result is a better reflection of the views of voters,” she wrote.

Alan Burt and Wilf Hanni advocated a different approach.  Both suggested the preferential ballot – which allows voters to rank candidates – and a majority electoral system that requires candidates to achieve over 50 per cent of voter support to win a riding. 

Burt, like Hills, focused primarily on the increased power given parties in a proportional system.  “I believe that proportional representation will further solidify the power of the party machine and further weaken the voice of the people thereby increasing the democratic deficit.”

Hanni, however, was concerned about voters casting ballots for their second choice under the current system because they feel their preferred candidate – often from a smaller party – has no chance of winning.  “The preferential balloting system of voting would eliminate this problem entirely.”

Stephen Garvey, of Kimberley, challenged the legitimacy of the Assembly.  He said the Assembly was undemocratic because its mandate was dictated by the legislature and is too narrow in scope.  “Democracy is not fundamentally electoral,” he stated, “it’s what the people want.”  

Hearings continue this week in the Kootenays and the Okanagan - Radium and Revelstoke on Tuesday, Sparwood and Penticton on Wednesday, and Kelowna on Thursday.  A full schedule of public hearings is available on the Assembly's website at