Dear Prime Minister:
We are residents of the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia and members of the Alliance 4 Democracy’s Proportional Representation Commit-tee. Alliance 4 Democracy was instrumental in the outcome of the last election in our riding and we are very interested in your government’s intention to study and implement electoral reform.
Our current system of first past the post typically results in a legislature that does not mirror the intentions of the electorate. Many Canadians do not believe their vote matters and simply do not vote.
We would urge you to ensure that any revised system be genuinely proportional, retain a connection to a local MP, be user friendly, and be secure in nature. Education of the population will be critical as the novelty of any new system will seem complex to many, and education, in itself, holds the potential to engage the population. In order to have a new system for the next election, as you promised, we encourage your government to embark on this venture with a sense of urgency.
Proportional representation has the potential to actively engage Canadians in the political process, will produce a more representative legislature, and would help restore confidence in democracy. Furthermore, the House of Commons would increase in its diversity, and political solutions would find more common ground and consensus.
We believe that proportional representation, a system successfully embraced by democracies around the world, is the best way to revitalize democracy and increase citizen engagement. Implementation of such a system will truly benefit current and future generations of Canadians. It would become an outstanding lasting legacy of your government.
Bet Cecill, Gibsons, for Alliance 4 Democracy
