Dear Editor:
A number of people have approached me to get my thoughts on proportional representation (PR).
As one who has experienced the current first-past-the-post system first hand in parliament, I strongly believe that we need a change.
When I was first elected in 2006, the Conservative government was in minority. When they proposed legislation or developed policy, cooperation with other parties was essential.
I represented my party on the Agriculture Committee where members of all parties worked together to develop policy. At times our decisions reflected the government’s position, and at times they did not.
When the Conservatives obtained a majority in 2011, I noticed a radical change. Collaboration was no longer necessary.
I remember, for example, our discussions on the proposed Food Safety Act. All members on the Ag Committee supported the act in principal, but when the opposition parties (NDP and Liberals) introduced some 20 amendments to improve and strengthen the proposed legislation, the Conservatives rejected all of them.
This is what often happens in a majority government under the current system. During the 2015 federal election campaign, the Liberals pledged to end the current first-past-the-post election system.
After the election, a committee dealing with democratic reform came up with a number of recommendations supported by all its members. However, the minister responsible, as well as the Prime Minister, rejected the committee’s recommendations and cancelled all further discussions on PR, even though this had been a campaign promise.
My point is this. Our current system of electing MPs and MLAs is often not conducive to creating an atmosphere of cooperation and respect.
We have also seen that the number of seats each party has does not necessarily reflect the percentage of votes received. Under PR there is less likelihood of majority governments being elected, which, in my opinion, is good for our democracy.
The more our politicians are forced to work together, the better off we all are. We have a chance in B.C. to improve our voting system by choosing proportional representation. Let’s give it a chance.
Alex Atamanenko
Castlegar, B.C.
Editor’s note: Alex Atamanenko is the former NDP MP for what was then called B.C. Southern Interior.
Surprise surprise, a former NDP MP is in favour of PR. Well Alex, first of all PR doesn’t stand a chance because it’s your current NDP circus and their vestigial twin aka the Green party that’s trying to shove it down our throats. You need look no further than this unholy alliance to see exactly why minority governments are the worst election result imaginable.
No matter, like I said PR doesn’t stand a chance. And neither does the NDP-Green alliance in the next provincial election.
I agree with John. Also, It seems to me that if look anywhere in the world,any entity with “democratic” in its name is far from it. Our current MP is just has bad the former for not replying to letters. These NDP’ers have never signed the front of a cheque in their lives. Professional politicians.