Thank you for the Oct. 19 article about Conservative MP Mel Arnold’s valiant crusade to represent the hordes of people in our riding who want and “demand electoral reform referendum.”
Seventy-four per cent of the 2,627 responses to Mel’s survey were in favour, which means 1,944 people support him.
In last year’s federal election 69,953 people voted. That tells us 68,009 of these people do not support Mel’s position.
Eligible voters here in North Okanagan-Shuswap for the October 2015 ballot amounted to 96,243 folks.
This suggests 94,299 oppose Mel’s concept.
On the bright side, Mr. Arnold can probably count on continued backing by the 1,944.
For comparison, this amounts to slightly more than half of the 3,609 votes cast in favor of Green Party candidate Chris George.
“It is encouraging to see a strong response from constituents,” to quote Mr. Arnold. Verily, this is a groundswell Sancho Panza and Don Quixote would surely admire.
Jerry Reitman
Vernon
