In response to "proportional representation not the answer for B.C.," Oct. 23 by Todd Whitcombe.
There is no perfect voting system but first past the post - our current system - is deeply flawed. Under FPTP, MLAs can win a riding when 50 to 60 or even 70 per cent of voters in that riding may have voted for a different person or party - all due to "vote splitting." Our legislature does not reflect voter intention. In 2001, during the provincial election, the B.C. Liberals won 77 out of 79 seats with 57 per cent of the popular vote. In the last two federal elections, first the Conservatives and then the Liberals won a majority of seats with 39 per cent of the popular vote. Proportional representation voting systems (and there are many variations of proportional representation which is used in over 85 per cent of OECD countries) have the potential to actually allow considerably more voter choice than FPTP. Some systems allow you to vote for a local and a regional candidate or choose between a number of candidates running for the same party etc. There is no dispute that with our current FPTP the candidates are nominated by party members (closed list) and the public has no choice unless they joined the political party and voted at the nomination stage.
Proportional representation promotes finding common ground and working together, which tends to lead to more stable long term policy and to avoid the political "swings" that we currently see under FPTP that waste a lot of money. One party undoing what the other has just commenced (and neither party having been elected with a majority of support from voters) is often the way it goes with our existing FPTP elections.
Proportional representation also means that voter intention is reflected in the outcome of the election (make up of the legislature). Proportional representation will improve representation for rural voters. As a rural voter, this is important to me. I welcome the day when we have a mix of political representation in rural B.C. that truly reflects the diversity of our political viewpoints.
Proportional representation won't answer all democratic deficits and is not perfect, but it will be a step in the right direction for our democracy. Learn more at www.fairvote.ca/proportional-representation.
Amber van Drielen, Golden
