Change electoral system without referendum

Re: “‘Work together,’ but with whom?” column, May 24. Andrew Weaver and the Green Party need to form a coalition government with whatever party agrees to immediately enact proportional representation, and stop corporate and union money controlling our political system. Likely the NDP is the only party willing to do this.

NDP Leader John Horgan personally supports both initiatives, but believes we need a referendum before enacting proportional representation, stating: “If you’re going to change the electoral system, you should ask the people about that. It’s their system, not mine.”

Yes, it’s the people’s electoral system. It’s also the people’s health-care system, the people’s justice system and the people’s education system. And we elect you and your fellow MLAs to make decisions about these and other institutions.

We don’t need a referendum. We just need you to do your job and pass legislation based on what you believe is best for our province, including electoral reform and campaign-finance reform.

But if Horgan is unwilling to accept this argument, and his position on a referendum is something he prefers not to concede, then have a referendum. But first let’s try proportional representation for an election or two.

We can see first-hand how both systems work, and then we all can make a truly informed decision about which one we prefer. It’s a compromise I’m sure the Greens could live with. John Miller Victoria