Re: The referendum on voting preference, it seems illogical that people who don’t like the idea of minority governments insist on keeping the very system, First Past The Post, that has given B.C. its current minority government. Wouldn’t it be more logical to vote for change?
It is similarly illogical that those in favour of retaining the status quo find it unfair that a party with just three seats can have so much influence, while they would be perfectly satisfied if a party favoured by only .06% more voters than its nearest rival had majority-government power. The Greens’ three seats, by the way, account for 16% of the popular vote, so the current government speaks for 56% of voters.
The referendum offers us a great chance to move a step away from the “antagonism” system of government and work towards government by consensus, where the aim is to make the wisest decisions, not just those most likely to appeal to potential supporters of the party in power.
And given the ease with which antagonism is being deliberately promoted by social media and fake news, any measure that lessens division should be welcomed, not rejected.
Elizabeth Marsland
Qualicum Beach