I recently spent five days on the train to Toronto, doing something I never expected B次元官网网址� being illuminated by fellow travellers on proportional representation (Pro Rep). The train was full of tourists from abroad B次元官网网址� from Germany, Australia, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand, Ireland, and more. Without our usual distractions, people had real conversations wherever they congregated.

Given the upcoming Pro Rep referendum in BC, the conversations often turned to electoral systems. We didnB次元官网网址檛 meet a single person from abroad who wasnB次元官网网址檛 already living under some form of Pro Rep. We heard over and over again how satisfied people are with their Pro Rep systems; they said their systems result in decisions that better reflect everyoneB次元官网网址檚 needs, keep politicians more accountable, and make politics less antagonistic.

An Irish woman old enough to remember living under first past the post said, B次元官网网址淚f they switched back, IB次元官网网址檇 emigrate!B次元官网网址� But one of the most telling comments of all was this one from a German: B次元官网网址淚 thought Canada was a first world country. I canB次元官网网址檛 believe you are still using first past the post.B次元官网网址�

More than 90 countries, including 85 per cent of OECD countries, use Pro Rep. Time for Canada to get into the 21st century.

Katherine Maas

Victoria