Change voting system

More and more of us feel our voices are not being heard in our respective legislatures. For good reason. Most governments do not accurately reflect voters’ wishes.

Most majority governments in this country are elected by a voter minority, courtesy of our archaic and unfair voting system, which manufactures majorities where none, in fact, exist.

Most local representatives are elected by a minority of voters, leaving the majority who voted for other parties voiceless.

Our current winner take all system might have been adequate in simpler times. It no longer serves our diverse population with its many different views and perspectives well. Those views must be represented in Parliament. That is how democracy is supposed to work.

Let a randomly selected, representative and independent assembly of ordinary citizens study the issue of electoral reform and make a recommendation.

In 2005, 58% of B.C. voters supported the recommendation of such a “Citizens’ Assembly” for a made-in-B.C. form of proportional representation.

Unfortunately, the government of the day raised the bar to 60% because, one might cynically suggest, our current voting system prioritizes the interests of mainstream parties over those of voters.

As the (recent truck) convoy (in Ottawa) has shown, our country is becoming more and more polarized, to the detriment of our democracy and us all.

I do not want future generations to inherit a legacy of division and hate. I do not want Canada to follow in the footsteps of our southern neighbour.

While electoral reform is not the only answer, it is a piece of the solution puzzle.

Sue Young, Vernon, Fair Vote North Okanagan Shuswap