Get those ballots in

Two objections to the proportional representation choices on the referendum I have heard frequently are that all three are confusing and that we will not have an MLA from our local area.  

The choice of one of three pro rep systems arose from a B.C. government-commissioned survey early this year that had over 90,000 responses. The majority wanted to try PR, but also wanted more than one option, so the government complied with this public wish. 

Details of each of the three are available at numerous sites, including elections.bc.ca. Realize, however, that the details of how riding boundaries are set, candidates selected, and final winners set even in our current first past the post system are neither as straightforward nor simple as many people seem to think.

As to having a local MLA, under the current FPTP system, the parties select the one candidate permitted to run in each riding. Under PR, each party would also select their candidate, or depending on the particular system chosen, more than one candidate, from within the individual ridings – that is whoever is elected will be ‘local.’

The difference from the current FPTP is that under any one of the PR systems on the referendum ballot, the number of MLAs in each riding will be close to the percentage of the popular vote each party gets in that riding.  This spells the end of the current system where a party can get 40 per cent or less of the popular vote within the province, but be given 100 per cent of the power in Victoria. And any party getting less than five per cent of the vote in a riding does not get a seat. So no proliferation of fringe parties. 

Elections BC must receive your ballot by Nov. 30 for it to be counted. Please send in your ballot today. To make sure it gets there in time, drop it off at your local Service BC or Referendum centre. 

Eva Durance