Basic reasons led me to vote for pro rep

Dear editor: Why do I support proportional representation over first past the post? It’s basic.

Pro rep is a fairer system where 30 per cent of the votes secure 30 per cent of the seats and 30 per cent of the power.

Contrast that to FPTP, where 40 per cent or less of the votes can secure a majority government with over 50 per cent of the seats and all the power.

Recent elections show this. Doug Ford’s PC Party in Ontario won 40 per cent of the votes to gain over 50 per cent of the seats and can thus win every vote in the legislature, therefore having 100 per cent of the power. Similarly, Justin Trudeau’s federal Liberals won a majority government with 39 per cent of the votes resulting in 52 per cent of the seats and all the power.

Pro rep gives a more balanced government — a government where the seats in parliament reflect the popular vote. This is a true democracy — a democracy of the people where government reflects what the people really want — a democracy where everyone’s vote counts.

With pro rep, almost all voters will have an MLA who they voted for and who shares their values. This encourages people to vote while eliminating the need for strategic voting.

Pro rep encourages co-operation and compromise because it benefits not only the people, but the MLAs, too.

MLAs will be more willing to look at new ideas from the opposition because they have nothing to lose by working together and much to gain. Government becomes more effective, issues can be openly discussed without the need to constantly belittle any and all ideas from opposing parties.

All this plus the Attorney General has guaranteed that no region will lose MLAs in any of the pro rep systems.

Let’s get rid of the outdated negative system that allows politicians to hang onto power with only a minority of votes.

I want to be part of the new, fairer, stable, effective pro rep system. I voted for proportional representation. I hope you do, too. H. Helvoigt, Kamloops