It’s time to fix B.C.’s broken democracy
Proportional representation, needed,
The day after an election, a majority — usually six out of 10 voters — effectively find themselves with a government in Victoria they didn’t choose.
The result? The majority must live with what the minority has chosen. Not terribly representative or democratic.
Since last May’s election, public opinion polls have shown time and again that most British Columbians think we need a new way to elect our government. That’s hardly surprising.
For more than half a century, voters in B.C. have gone back and forth between parties on the left and right. Yet only one of these governments was elected with the support of more than half the people.
It’s no wonder voter apathy is on the rise. Fewer people feel motivated to exercise their democratic right, staying home on election day. If the trend of the last few decades continues, we are in danger of a majority of British Columbians refusing their vote.
Among those who do make it to the polls, many feel pressured to vote for the lesser of two evils. They feel compelled to vote “strategically.”
Instead of voting for someone they believe in, they vote for a different candidate to prevent the election of yet another. Not coincidentally, a growing number feel cynical about politics.
When you have a voting system based on a winner-takes-all outcome — commonly called first past the post (like it’s some kind of horse race) — the real losers are the majority of B.C. voters. Entire regions of the province have no voice in government. Just look now at most of the Interior and the north, as well as the Fraser Valley.
Plus, by giving so much power to the leader of a single party, the first-past-the-post system
We think it’s time to bring government back to the people
means MLAs feel pressured to toe the party line and not advocate publicly for local concerns. We lose local accountability.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Later this year, British Columbians have an opportunity to vote in a referendum to put an end to the electoral horse race. We can choose proportional representation, a more democratic and fair way of voting that ensures every voter counts.
Through proportional voting there will be no more elections where a party supported by a minority of voters can wield total power over the majority. Instead, if a party’s candidates gets 40 per cent of the vote, they’ll win 40 per cent of the seats. That’s it. Simple and fair.
The majority of British Columbians have repeatedly said they want a better way to elect their MLAs. Since late November, thousands have voiced their opinions about how the referendum on voting should proceed.
Enthusiasm is clearly building to bring in the change citizens want. But we can’t take this moment for granted. Already, vested special interests are trying to undermine the broad public support for a better democracy by raising outrageous fears and spreading misinformation.
These opponents of fairer elections are unwilling to acknowledge most people aren’t well-served by our system. Why? The first-pastthe-post system works for these forces of “no” who fear losing control over government, party backrooms and policies that shape our society. We think it’s time to bring government back to the people.
Over the next several months, individuals and organizations that support PR will be building a grassroots movement to win the referendum. From Fort St. John to Tofino, from Creston to Richmond, our movement will seek to unite British Columbians, not divide them.
When we think back on our province’s history, it’s easy to see our first-past-the-post system has been broken a long time. It’s well past time for a change, and that change is to make every voter count through proportional representation.