MIXED MEMBER PRO-REP VOTING
Premier would veto closed-list model
VICTORIA Premier John Horgan says he’ll instruct his NDP MLAs to block an unappealing version of one of the proportional representation models should it win in this month’s referendum.
Horgan told Postmedia News on Wednesday that if British Columbians vote to replace the province’s electoral system with mixed-member proportional, he’ll order NDP MLAs to oppose the socalled closed-list approach when a legislature committee decides the details of the new system.
“The direction from me will be that the members of that committee not support a closed list,” said Horgan, describing a model in which voters don’t get to select candidates from party lists.
“And I think that’s the general view of all of the members of caucus who I have talked to about it.”
Mixed-member proportional is one of three pro-rep options available to voters on mail-in ballots.
Many of the details on the options would be decided by the legislature committee after the referendum, with new riding boundaries set by an independent boundaries commission.
The NDP and the Greens would have a majority on the post-referendum legislature committee.
The premier’s direction, combined with the Greens’ previously stated opposition to the closed-list model, means that system is effectively off the table.
Under mixed-member, sixty per cent of MLAs would be directly elected using the current firstpast-the-post system in ridings.
The other 40 per cent of seats would be distributed to people on party lists to ensure seat totals reflect the popular vote.
With a closed list, the public sees, but doesn’t vote on, the candidates on the party lists. The main criticism is that it allows political parties to stack their lists with patronage candidates.
Horgan said that, if mixed members wins, he’ll direct MLAs to support the “open list” model, where voters can indicate their preference for individuals on party lists with direct votes.
“With an open list ... you would have the local names, nominated by the various parties, and another list of names nominated again by the parties,” said Horgan.
“My view would be that you put your preferences beside those as you would prefer them. I think that’s easily achievable and would maintain the transparency I think everybody wants. I’ve been pretty clear that everybody elected to the legislature will be just that, elected as an individual, representing a point of view.”
Horgan said he voted for mixedmember because it’s already used in other countries.
Horgan’s declaration that he’ll block closed lists in favour of more democratic open lists could help direct Yes side supporters to the mixed-member option.
The Yes side has been focusing its campaign on change, without recommending one of the three pro-rep options. But it could alter its strategy in the final days of the campaign.
The other two models are ruralurban and dual member proportional.
Voter turnout in the mail-in referendum sat at 6.5 per cent on Wednesday, with 16 days to go.
Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson accused Horgan of trying to manipulate voters into supporting pro-rep by restricting one of the options in the middle of the campaign.
“The turnout for this referendum has been so poor, so far, that we have to start wondering about its legitimacy,” said Wilkinson. “And the NDP are trying to simplify the choices so people will be more comfortable voting.”
The deadline for mail-in voting packages to be received by Elections B.C. is Nov. 30, meaning they must to be mailed several days earlier. Completed voting packages can also be returned in person to Service B.C. Centres or a Referendum Service Office.
Voters who still haven’t received their ballots must ask for one before Nov. 23.
Horgan said he thinks the Greens and Liberals will support him if mixed-member comes to a vote on a legislature committee.
“I’ve heard the Liberal party is opposed to closed lists, as well,” he said. “So the committee that will be struck after a Yes vote, should that be the will of the people, will consist of half NDP, half Liberal and a Green — that’s how the committees will be struck so far because it is an evenly-balanced legislature. And I believe that the majority of members will say, ‘Yeah I agree we should have an open list.’ ”
Wilkinson rejected that. “John Horgan is trying to anticipate the decision of the all-party committee that he controls, so he might as well tell us all the answer right now rather than playing games with us,” said Wilkinson.