Editor:
No voting system is utopian. Regarding the present intention to change ours, there is nothing useful in idealization for change or scaremongering against change. Why some people think we shouldn’t “rock the boat” in our province and upend our current system, First Past the Post (FPTP), is somewhat understandable. However, FPTP, as in a horse race, produces more majority governments, which generally results in more divisive policy, as there is no need for co-operation among parties.
Some people worry about any change, including to our electoral system. This worry seems to be: “When we look around the world, Canada compares favourably. We are stable, have programs and policies that support a good life, etc.” These programs and policies (Medicare, EI, pension plan, et cetera) are largely a result of the minority governments Canada had in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s; parties with very different ideas agreed to co-operate on policy in order to form governments, much the same as is happening in B.C. at the moment. Such governments tend to better reflect the public’s interests, as opposed to party interests.
If we look to Nordic countries, and most other democracies of the world that use a form of Proportional Representation (PR), input on environment, education, health care and social issues become legislated after debate from different parties with different viewpoints. There isn’t the undoing and redoing of a former government’s policies because of this co-operative approach.
The norm in our elections is results that don’t reflect the popular vote. We could have a legislature reflect the popular vote plus a greater range of ideas as a permanent feature. Introducing a made-in-B.C. voting system that encourages proportionality and the need for co-operation among parties would ensure smoother sailing and a move towards a more progressive society.
Linda Hoechstetter, Roberts Creek
