Ignore the fearmongers, choose PR

The one thing that stands out to me as I have reached out to our community to speak to them about our upcoming referendum, it is that B.C. voters are pretty savvy. Certainly, they are just as smart as voters in New Zealand, Ireland, Germany and 90-plus other countries who have embraced a proportional voting system.

They trust Canada’s past 13 independent commissions on this subject, all of which have urged us to try a fairer, more inclusive voting system – proportional representation.

All up, there is strong support for changing our voting system. B.C. voters want their vote to count towards electing someone – every time, regardless of whether you are in a safe Liberal or NDP riding.

But what system of pro rep on the ballot do you choose? Simply, you don’t have to pick one. If you’re convinced, as I am that any of the three systems would be fairer, then just answer the first question. Your ballot will still be valid.

However, more choice does exist. If you are holding onto your ballot looking for more information on which system you support, a great tool is referendumguide.ca. This fun, five-minute quiz will help you choose if pro rep is right for you and if so, what system. Here is a quick run-down. First-past-the-post is our current system. MLAs are elected in single-member districts on a winner-take-all basis. The candidate with the most votes becomes your MLA and voters who voted otherwise have to make do with an MLA from another party.

Dual Member Proportional pairs two ridings into one with two MLAs. It has the look and feel of FPTP, and the first MLA is elected on a winner-take-all basis. The second MLA is elected based on the provincial vote and district vote to ensure proportionality provincewide. The two MLAs elected will usually be the two that did the best from two different parties.

Mixed Member Proportional elects local MLAs the same way as now but sets aside a number of regional seats to ensure proportionality at the regional level. Under one system, you will have two votes: one for your local MLA and one for a regional candidate from the party of your choice.

Rural Urban Proportional uses MMP in rural areas. Urban and semi-urban areas will use the Single Transferable Vote proposed by B.C.’s citizens’ assembly in 2004. STV allows voters to rank as many candidates as they want from multiple parties when casting their vote.

All three systems avoid the problem that we have with FPTP that a party with 40 per cent of the vote can form a “majority” government with unchecked power.

With proportional representation, 40 per cent of the vote means 40 per cent of the seats.

In all three systems, we will continue to see candidates’ names on the ballot, not just parties. No MLAs will be “appointed” by the parties and no region will lose MLAs. All MLAs will be accountable to constituents in a specific geographic area.

With all three systems, voters in our region will continue to vote for a local MLA like we do now.

However, votes cast for someone other than the winning candidate in the riding will no longer be confined to the trash heap. They will count toward electing a regional MLA or a second MLA.

So, we're not so much just getting rid of our current system, so much as adding a layer of representation to make sure that all votes count and we get proportional election results.

Most importantly, the only way your vote will count in this referendum is if you get your ballot in the mail. Let’s check the box that means hope and not fear. Don’t let the pundits tell you it’s too hard.

Let’s give a form of proportional representation a chance.

Tina Lee is a volunteer with Fair Vote South Okanagan Similkameen. She and her family reside in Penticton.