Re: ‘Viewpoint’ (PQB News, Oct. 2)
Michelle Stilwell argues against a referendum for electoral system change, on the grounds that “our entire system could be changed by less than a quarter of the population” and asks “How is that fair?”
She then argues for exactly that system (first past the post) for electing a government. In May 2017, Stillwell was elected by 45.37% of votes (source: PQB News, May 9, 2017); and in B.C., voter turnout hit 61.7% of eligible voters (source: PQB News, May 11, 2017, updated June 1). So she was elected by only 27.99% of eligible voters.
My question is “How is that fair?”
That is why a change to some kind of proportional representation is being proposed. First past the post might not be perfect, but neither is any other system, nor does it pretend to be. Is the grass greener on the other side? Maybe not, but at least the people would be represented by those they have elected, rather than those elected by a minority to rule the majority.
Andy Mundy
Bowser