News Release - Prince Rupert public hearing

Residents explore electoral options

A deep interest in understanding and exploring the use of proportional representation (PR) was shown at a public hearing in Prince Rupert Wednesday night (June 9).

And, while they were hesitant about some elements of its practice, during in-depth group discussions many local residents backed the idea of including a form of PR in BC’s electoral system.

Some members of the public displayed wariness towards any reform that would loosen their ties to a local representative in the Legislature – and they were similarly reticent about a system where parties, not the public, would be allowed to choose which of their own members took a seat in the Legislature. Others, however, were more ambivalent about the merits of local representation, suggesting that, once elected, MLAs are rather powerless to represent local interests above those of their party.

The lack of choice for voters was a common theme among critics of BC’s current electoral system. Kaeleen Foote, of Prince Rupert, said that under a mixed member proportional (MMP) system, British Columbia could have constituencies of interest as well as regional constituencies. "When I go to vote, what choice do I have? Party A or party B, or toss my vote down the drain."

Swings in policy making were a concern for Prince Rupert resident Lorraine Bugera, another MMP advocate. "As a front line worker in the health industry, when these rapid policy swings happened I felt as though I was at the end of a game of crack the whip," she said.

David Konsmo, a Prince Rupert resident, argued that proportional representation would address the drastic mood swings of disillusioned voters. PR offers built-in checks and balances for parties that get carried away, he said. Konsmo said that "a PR system can be an institution of sober second thought for voters".

But not all presenters were in favour of PR.

Gordon Stamp-Vincent asked the Assembly to avoid recommending systems where party leaders decided which candidates would be elected if the party received popular support. Power needs to be taken away from party leaders he said. Stamp-Vincent told the Assembly: "I’m dead set against PR systems that give more power to the party leaders."

Prince Rupert’s Greg Slocombe warned the Assembly about recommending PR if it would reduce citizens’ access to a local representative. "I appreciate having a voice, even if I don’t agree with that individual on each issue."

Other ideas raised at the public hearing included choosing PR candidates from the runners-up in constituency elections, holding regular computer polls of citizen opinion, placing a ‘none-of-the-above’ option on the ballot for voters to register their disenfranchisement and encouraging increased accountability for politicians. There was generally a lack of support for reducing the voting age.