Dear Editor:
Re: Electoral Reform: Learn About It, June 15 Mailbox.
I wanted to reply to Donna Stewart’s letter where she encouraged people to educate themselves on electoral systems and to join her in supporting a proportional representation system of government. While I agree with her that everyone should learn more about electoral systems, I cannot support her view that proportional representation is the way to go.
PR governments are often coalitions cobbled together by a few more middle-of-the road parties supported by a few special interest parties. These special interest parties often end up holding the balance of power in a coalition and threaten to leave the government if they don’t get their way. This situation means that the very small number of voters who support the special interest parties are actually controlling far more of the government agenda than they should. This is not an improvement over the current system. Add to this the fact that parties would now select representatives off their lists of candidates rather than people voting directly for their own local MLAs, accountability becomes very problematic indeed.
I do agree, however that first past the post also has its challenges and would much prefer that we move to a preferential balloting system where each MLA would need 50 per cent of the votes cast in each riding in order to be elected. This would prevent the “running up the middle” that can happen so easily in a FPTP system. A preferential balloting system would keep representation at the local level where each riding would still be represented by a MLA and also ensure that at least 50 per cent of the population in each riding voted for the elected MLA. This would be a fair system that leads to accountability and stable government.
I am concerned that the current government seems to only be considering FPTP or PR. If that is the only choice, I will be supporting maintaining FPTP.
Kathleen Sanders Whyte
North Vancouver
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