Re: Businesses ponder voting scheme, Market News, Oct. 26
I am strongly opposed to the idea, being promoted by the BC Chamber of Commerce, that business owners and operators who work in one municipality, and live in another, should have a vote in each, in municipal elections. If a business operates from just one site, its owner or operator has a choice whether to live, and vote, in that municipality. If some decide not to, why should this entitle them to a second vote? Should employees who live in one municipality, and work in another, get a second vote too?
Large corporations already have far too much influence on federal and provincial politics. Records of their lobbying activities show how energetic they are in influencing legislation and regulations. A striking example is that, when the federal government negotiates a “free trade” treaty, major corporations are closely involved in the negotiations, while MPs do not even find out what provisions the treaty contains until it is ready for signature by our Big Brother government. And at this point, party discipline tells them all which way to vote. Government by and for the people has long since gone out of the window. Government by and for the (big) corporations is now the norm. Why should this be extended to local government too?
Ray Morris
