News Release: Smithers public hearing

Local representation underpins views on change

A desire for greater proportionality – but not at the expense of local representation – underpinned the views of several presenters during a public hearing of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform in Smithers Monday night.

The consensus among a number of presenters was that adopting a form of proportional representation in BC would certainly combat voter apathy and reduce a feeling of "disenfranchisement" among pockets of the electorate.

But while improved proportionality over how votes won at the ballot box translated into seats in the Legislature was important, presenters guarded against achieving this if it meant northern ridings received a smaller dose of local representation as a result of any changes recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly.

Close to 60 people attended the hearing in Smithers – the first of four taking place in northern BC this week.

Speaking in favour of a system of mixed member proportionality (MMP), Burns Lake resident Bill Miller told Assembly members: "Here in the north, as in most of rural BC, we have always felt under-represented." He said MMP would help by allowing voters to have two votes; one for the best constituency candidate, and one for a party that represents a voter’s principles.

George Koopmans requested a "made in BC solution" for an electoral system that is non-adversarial, has more accountability and stimulates citizen participation. "Any change that is proposed should not lead to the loss of representation in the northern ridings," he said. "As it is, the huge northern ridings are the most difficult to represent adequately."

Smithers resident Walter Hromatka advocated a system of proportional representation for BC because it "reflects the political complexion of communities better than any other process". Local accountability, he said, would be achieved because MLAs would choose to represent particular areas or interests. Hromatka backed this system because he felt it would reduce voter apathy.

Hilda Earl, of Burns Lake, also tackled the issue of voter apathy. "Is it worth the gas to go and vote?" she asked. To improve our democracy, Earl suggested a system where voters have three choices on the ballot: a vote for a local representative decided under a system of majority voting, a vote for a political party and a vote for a set of policies that each party places on the ballot. She felt such change would give citizens more control over the government’s agenda.

Steven Mann said he represented the "disenfranchised youth of BC". He also advocated an MMP system because, in his view, election results would then represent the views of all voters. Our current system "wastes votes" he said, augmenting his belief that MMP would significantly increase voter turnout. Mann, along with a number of presenters, suggested that political parties should work together in a more consensual manner.