Imagine you are forced to play a game.
In this game, the rules are made up by your opponents, and will only be released after the game is over.
I think many of us would find this blatantly unfair.
Unfortunately, what I am describing isn’t a game, but the electoral reform referendum that the BC NDP is introducing.
Thus far, British Columbians have received few details on the referendum or the various proportional representation systems the government wants to introduce.
Instead of a clear choice between systems, the premier has told voters that if a proportional representation system is adopted, a legislature committee will determine aspects of the new system.
In the 2005 and 2009 referendums on proportional representation, which both failed, the independent Citizens’ Assembly created and implemented the referendum question, without the input of political parties, politicians, or special interest groups.
This time, the NDP has abandoned impartiality, and instead has allowed the Attorney General, NDP MLA David Eby, to craft the referendum question.
The Attorney General has stated he will recuse himself from any caucus discussions surrounding the referendum, but that seems like a fairly flimsy safeguard.
The referendum ballot will be mailed out in October. There is no threshold for voter response or regional representation. If only 30 per cent of British Columbians vote, then 50 per cent plus one of the votes cast will determine our voting system. Under these rules, densely populated areas like the Lower Mainland could determine the voting system for the whole province.
I support letting people have their say in how we vote, but this referendum process has been biased from the start and needs to be re-evaluated.
British Columbians deserve an honest, open, and fair referendum process.
This referendum process is not that.
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