Ontario voters could learn from British Columbia

As we Ontarians watch with growing alarm the daily announcements of cuts and policy reversals, our compatriots in British Columbia are voting in a referendum on proportional representation. We might well advise them to vote yes and then quickly follow suit ourselves.

Aside from the fairness issue of making every vote count, there’s a strong case that PR promotes stable governance. Elections under the first-past-the-post system often cause a wholesale power shift from one party to another based on winning 40 per cent or less of the vote.

That’s what happened in Ontario in June. Now our new government, opposed by a majority of the voters, is free to impose its own ideology unchecked, cancelling and reversing the laws and programs of the previous government.

Did Ontarians, when they voted, intend to express a sudden and radical change in values? No. We decided to shift power away from the Liberals in favour of the Progressive Conservatives.

Under PR, elections rebalance power among parties and result in coalitions that speak and act for the majority. Yes, these governments take more time to hammer out policy through consultation and compromise. This is a positive.

Policy will be less erratic and wasteful. The resulting continuity, stability — and savings! — are huge positives. Most democracies use PR.

These days, as I worry what Ontario will look like in four years, I wish Ontarians were having the opportunity to vote for

PR, for accurate election results, and the moderate power shifts they give.

Joyce Hall

Professor, Seneca College

Markdale, Ont.