Proportional representation is the change we need

During the 2017 BC election I spoke to a lot of voters across BC, but one conversation stood out. I was speaking with a young man in a riding considered a “safe seat” for the BC Liberals. He was thoughtful, informed on the issues, and engaged in his community. But despite all of this he was not planning to vote.

He felt discouraged, he said, by divisive politics. And frustrated because he felt his vote would be wasted on a candidate with no chance of winning. On Election Day he was going to stay home.

This interaction has stuck with me not because it was unique, but because it is now so common.

Every election more and more voters question our political system – especially younger people. I can’t begin to count the number of people I’ve spoken to on the doorstep who no longer have faith or trust in our democratic system, and who feel that their vote doesn’t count.

That’s not a sign of a healthy democracy. In fact, it’s a sign that things badly need to change.

I believe that proportional representation is the change we need.

Initially, I was skeptical that proportional representation was the way to go. I was worried that minority or coalition governments might make it difficult to get things done for people in BC.

But the past 15 months have convinced me – even more so than before – that proportional representation will be a good thing for our province.

For the past year-and-a-half, our minority New Democrat government has been working with the Green MLAs, and we have accomplished a great deal for the people of BC. Things like the beginnings of a universal child care program, the elimination of unfair MSP premiums, a poverty reduction strategy, an affordable housing plan, action on healthcare waitlists, and much, much more.

 

 

Does minority government take more time? Yes, it does. You have to be willing to consult, you have to be willing to compromise, and you have to be able to justify your positions because you have partners you want to work with, not dictate to.

Does this make governing more challenging? You bet it does. But that challenge is positive because it leads to greater collaboration and well thought-out decisions for people in BC.

Our current, first-past-the-post system just isn’t geared for those kind of conversations. It’s not set up to give everyone a voice at the table, it’s set up to give one voice 100% of the power – even if that one voice received fewer than 50% of the votes.

We’ve seen this happen in BC many times. The BC Liberals won their last three majority governments with less than 50% of the vote. Doug Ford’s Conservatives in Ontario just won a majority with only about 40% of the popular vote. These kind of governments don’t have to work with anyone.

Proportional representation will change our political system so the more collaborative, cooperative government you see in BC right now happens all the time, not just on the rare occasions a minority government is elected.

No system is perfect. All democratic systems are messy and have their challenges. But too many people – especially young people – have disengaged from our current system. They haven’t disengaged from activism or from their communities, but they’ve lost faith in a voting system that doesn’t work for them.

Proportional representation will help show them a democratic system that works. Countries around the world with pro rep voting systems have higher voter turnout, greater diversity in their parliaments, more stable governments and stronger economies, and their people have a greater sense of satisfaction in their democracies – even when the party they support isn’t in power.

We can have the same here in BC. And it’s time for a change. We have an historic opportunity this fall to make every vote count, and finally put people back in the centre of politics. I hope you’ll join me in voting yes for proportional representation.