Editor:
We elect MPs to the Parliament of Canada and MLAs to the provincial legislature in riding elections where each constituent has the right to vote to elect a representative of their riding, their community – not party or movements seeking their own interest and advantage at the expense of the people and of their voice in the community as democracy.
Space and population define Canada’s and B.C.’s realities and our constitution. Any proposal for fundamental change to our democracy demands a constitutional reference from the Supreme Court of Canada as to its constitutionality and a referendum in the jurisdiction, national or provincial, where such change would be proposed.
A constitutional right of a legislature to change our electoral system exists, but not to impose change that is not itself constitutional as any form of proportional representation would surely be found to be.
I represented the Progressive Canadian Party in South Surrey-White Rock for the past four federal elections. Having since moved, I voted for the elected BC Green candidate in Cowichan Valley, Sonia Furstenau; I did not vote for or support PR (proportional representation) as electoral reform.
The 2009 referendum on electoral reform showed us that its proponents – either as “BC-STV” (PR-STV) or other proposals – are driven by partisan interest and partisan advantage, not the interest of the people.
The B.C. provincial election result in 2017 is not another “historic opportunity” for the proponents of PR to impose their preferred form of partisanship.
Brian Marlatt, Honeymoon Bay