A strong sentiment to summon the youth vote and ensure each British Columbian is fairly represented in government was the message at a rally in favour of proportional representation hosted by the BC Green Party and the BC NDP in Victoria, Tuesday evening.
Hundreds of people filled the Crystal Gardens at the Victoria Convention Centre to show support for change in the provinceB次元官网网址檚 electoral system.
B次元官网网址淔or too long our old, outdated voting system has led to polarization and extreme partisanship,B次元官网网址� Premier John Horgan told the room.
What does mean?
B次元官网网址� Kristyn Anthony (@kristyn_anthony)
B次元官网网址淵our vote matters!B次元官网网址� :
Proportional representation (PR) is a system whereby parties gain seats in direct proportion to the number of votes cast for them.
First-past-the-post (FPTP) gives candidates the power, whether they were elected by a single vote or by a landslide, based on representation in the provinceB次元官网网址檚 87 electoral districts.
A self-professed B次元官网网址渓ate convertB次元官网网址� to PR, Horgan said under proportional representation, the diversity of the community is better represented in the legislature.
Pointing to the Ontario election where Premier Doug Ford received just 40 per cent of the votes, but holds 100 per cent of the power, Horgan said: B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 not good for democracy.B次元官网网址�
That encourages governments to become arrogant and stop listening to people, he added.
RELATED: Voting set to start in B.C. proportional representation referendum
Residents across B.C. will vote by mail-in ballot with a Nov. 30 deadline, choosing to remain with the first-past-the-post system or transition to proportional representation.
Voters will also select which type of PR they prefer B次元官网网址� dual member proportional, mixed member proportional or rural-urban proportional.
The referendum will be the the third such vote in 18 years. In 2005, 57 per cent of voters chose PR and in 2009 only 39 per cent of voters were in favour; in order to change the system, a minimum of 60 per cent is required.
RELATED: Rural regions get priority for B.C. referendum mail-out
B次元官网网址淲hen people say pro rep is a once in a generation opportunity, theyB次元官网网址檙e talking about my generation,B次元官网网址� said Simka Marshall, a member of the Ahousaht First Nation studying geography at Douglas College.
A change to proportional representation will inspire young voters, she explained, because the province will be better represented, regardless of which party is in power.
B次元官网网址淢y generation doesnB次元官网网址檛 have the luxury of being apathetic,B次元官网网址� she told the crowd. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e graduating with thousands of dollars of debt, weB次元官网网址檙e likely to be lifetime renters and weB次元官网网址檙e watching our Earth and climate change dramatically.
B次元官网网址淏ut we are also the generation of change,B次元官网网址� she added.
RELATED:
The B.C. Liberals have made it clear they are in favour of keeping the current past-the-post system, accusing the NDP of B次元官网网址渞ushing an unfair referendumB次元官网网址� to appease the Greens B次元官网网址減ropping up their government,B次元官网网址� according to the party website.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e spreading fear and theyB次元官网网址檙e spreading misinformation,B次元官网网址� Horgan said of the Liberals, because they are B次元官网网址減etrified of working with other people.B次元官网网址�
B.C. Green Party leader Andrew Weaver agreed, saying PR gives people the option to vote for what they want, eliminates the need for strategic voting that can lead to wasted votes, and ends the pitting of political parties against one another.
B次元官网网址淯nder that model, you get to vote with hope,B次元官网网址� Weaver said.
@kristyn_anthony
kristyn.anthony@blackpress.ca
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