The deputy leader of the provincial Green Party urged support for proportional representation on Thursday night during a community forum in Campbell River.
Sonia Furstenau, Green Party MLA for the Cowichan Valley, fielded questions from residents and argued in favour of changes to B.C.’s electoral system in a referendum that takes place by postal ballot from Oct. 22-Nov. 30.
“You have this moment right now where you can contribute to exactly the change we need to see in the world,”‘ said Furstenau of the upcoming plebiscite.
She said that economic inequality is leading people to believe that democracy doesn’t work but that proportional representation would be a step in the right direction.
“For the 90 per cent, it’s getting harder and harder,” she said. “Almost everybody is starting to feel the impacts.”
About three dozen people turned out for the event, which took place at the Museum at Campbell River.
When someone asked the MLA for some good news, she listed various policies implemented under the NDP after it formed a minority government with the support of the Green Party last year.
She cited policies including campaign financing reforms, which banned corporate and union donations while limiting private contributions.
She also pointed to new rules on lobbying, and what Furstenau described as “giant steps” for childcare.
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One member of the audience expressed concern about glyphosate, which is best known as the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup. Glyphosate is sprayed on B.C. forests to kill deciduous trees, such as aspen and birch, in favour of high-value conifers, such as Douglas fir.
Critics say the practice is highly damaging to biodiversity and that it encourages wildfires. An online petition by a group called Stop the Spray BC has garnered almost 50,000 signatures.
Furstenau said a ban on glyphosate would be a “starting point,” but said she wanted a new vision for forestry.
“Our ecological systems cannot be treated like factories,” said Furstenau.
Other issues raised by members of the community during the 1.5 hour meeting included concerns about mining activities.
On this note, Furstenau said she wants mining companies to pay a large bond before beginning work, as a way to cover the public costs of cleaning up pollution.
“If you screw up, you’re going to have to cover that cost,” she said.
One member of the audience also took issue with the provincial government’s decision to continue work on BC Hydro’s controversial Site C project on the Peace River.
Furstenau said the Green Party opposes the project but decided not to force another election with a vote of non-confidence, since the winner would likely emerge with a majority and build Site C.
“You’re going to end up with a Liberal or NDP majority,” she said. “Does that get you a different outcome on Site C? No, it doesn’t.”
She also took Premier John Horgan to task on the subject of the proposed Coastal GasLink pipeline, which would carry liquefied natural gas about 670 km from northeastern B.C. to a planned facility in Kitimat.
The project would dramatically increase carbon emissions contributing to climate change, said Furstenau. But she stopped short of suggesting the Green Party would withdraw support from the government over the matter.
At the end of the meeting, Furstenau returned to the subject of proportional representation, saying that political parties in B.C. will retreat into heightened partisanship if the proposed reforms don’t win the approval of electors.
After describing the various options outlined on the ballot – including three models of proportional representation – she urged locals to participate in the “yes” campaign. She also encouraged campaigners to adopt a positive attitude.
“Saturate [the campaign] with joy and optimism,” she said. “It’s an unbeatable force.”
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