Horgan should accept Wilkinson’s debate challenge

This fall’s referendum on proportional representation could profoundly change the way B.C.’s democracy operates and functions.

For that reason, Premier John Horgan shouldn’t hesitate in accepting Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson’s challenge to debate the issue one-on-one. But Horgan hasn’t done that. He has waffled and wavered. And then he trotted out the most predictable excuse possible for ducking the debate.

“The better place to start that debate is in the legislature,” Horgan said Wednesday.

This is bogus because the legislature has already passed all the required legislation for the Oct. 22 to Nov. 30 mail-in referendum. There are no new bills to debate.

And if Horgan is talking about “debating” the issue in Question Period, that’s a joke, too. A few pre-scripted sound bites is no substitute for a moderated, televised, hourlong debate on such a crucial issue. Horgan also said he is “not ruling out” debating Wilkinson, and voters can only hope he rules it in. British Columbians deserve no less.

But I have a feeling he wants no part of a debate with Wilkinson because Horgan’s “Yes” side is already leading the polls and a poor debate performance could reverse the trend.

“You have to wonder if what he actually wants is a low voter turnout in this referendum,” Wilkinson told me. “A lot of people out there don’t even know this referendum is happening and maybe Premier Horgan likes it that way.”

Why would the NDP — and their Green party governing partners — want a low turnout? Wilkinson thinks the more people learn about this referendum the more likely they are to vote “No” on proportional representation.

A PR voting system would boost the electoral fortunes of small parties like the Greens, producing more minority parliaments and possibly allowing the Greens to maintain their governing alliance with the NDP. So it’s easy to see why the NDP and the Greens want PR and the Liberals want to keep the first-past-the-post system that has served them well.

But that’s no excuse for Horgan to duck a debate with Wilkinson. And if Weaver thinks he should get a say, the Green leader should be invited to the debate, too.

But, interestingly, Weaver also shows little interest in a televised debate. A Green party official told me a TV debate might not be “the right format” to increase public awareness, knowledge and participation in the referendum. I can’t think of a better format for raising awareness. The TV networks have already offered air time. There is simply no excuse to avoid one.

The New Democrats and Greens have set the bar as low as possible for this referendum to pass and for proportional representation to become law. A voting result of 50 per cent plus one — the barest possible majority — is all that’s required.

I have supported PR in the past and I’m leaning that way again. But procedural tricks and avoiding debates are cynical, ugly tactics to achieve a new voting system.

Horgan should accept Wilkinson’s challenge. Let Weaver in, too, if he wants. Anything less is an insult to B.C. voters.