Government can’t be trusted

The foundation of Herb Grubel’s opinion in his Monday op-ed is based on the concept of a minimum five per cent threshold of the popular vote requirement to win seats in the legislature if proportional representation is adopted.

But there is no guarantee the NDP will approve of a five per cent commitment if pro-rep passes. They have already frequently broken commitments on this referendum, such as Premier John Horgan’s promise of a simple Yes/No question, and to maintain regional thresholds. As it is, voting for pro-rep doesn’t guarantee the five per cent minimum will be a part of B.C.’s electoral system if pro-rep passes. In fact, according to the government, there are 29 unanswered questions about pro-rep systems that will be determined by the NDP and Greens only after the vote.

Also, after a pro-rep election, a party with just over the five per cent minimum would demand the threshold be reduced in exchange for its support in a coalition government, thus improving its chances in the next election. We saw this play out last year when the Greens demanded — and received — from the NDP a reduction to two seats from four in the legislature to receive official party status and the benefits.

Sooner or later this scenario will play out, opening the door to the fringe parties many are concerned about. Norm Letnick, MLA, Kelowna-Lake Country