First past the post still best system

Dear Editor: The main reason I don’t agree with the three proportional representation options offered in the upcoming B.C. referendum is because of the loss of democracy.

In all three options, many members of Parliament are appointed, not elected. If we allow this loss of democracy to continue, we may no longer have one of the best countries in the world.

While democracies are not perfect, Winston Churchill noted that a democracy is still the best form of government that has ever been tried. Smaller parties tend to prefer proportional representation because they can often exercise more power than their electoral success might suggest.

Therefore, I believe the current first past the post voting system is still the best. George Brake Summerland houses into vacation rentals. And, the impact on the surrounding urban neighbourhood can be significant.

Noise, parking and garbage are three of the obvious problems. But, a more subtle problem is the degradation of once quiet and peaceful neighbourhoods. Carriage houses that become vacation rentals are an intrusion of commercial development into peaceful residential neighbourhoods.

While council recently made amendments to the zoning bylaw in an attempt to control the size of carriage houses and is working on design guidelines to manage the form and character of them; no attention has been paid to them becoming vacation rental units.

Perhaps we will see a new enlightened council that fully appreciates how intrusive carriage houses can be. If they at least prevent carriage houses from being used as vacation rentals, it will be a small step in protecting our urban neighbourhoods. Don Cummings

Penticton