The Editor,
Re. “Why is changing electoral system so easy?” (Opinion, The Tri-City News, March 16).
Where to start in refuting Mike Klassen’s column and its flawed arguments against moving to a much fairer electoral system?
The opponents of electoral reform are afraid that if proportional representation (PR) is adopted, they will either lose their stranglehold on power or B.C. will go to hell in a hand basket.
They will use any argument to appeal to voters to stop this mad rush to electoral reform. One of their favourite arguments is that because strata rules require changes in bylaws to have the approval of three quarters of residents, this referendum should require three quarters approval.
They neglect to say that in all levels of government, most if not all important bills only require a 50% plus majority — think abortion, assisted death, voting age, the legalization of marijuana, the right for women, Asians and indigenous peoples.
In echoing the talking points of the opponents of electoral reform, Mr. Klassen, in righteous indignation states, “If as few as 30% of voters cast ballots in the referendum as some suggest, this means that as little as 15% of voters will choose the electoral system for 100% of British Columbians.”
What does he think happens every time we have an election? Election after election in every town, in every province and in Canada elects a government based on the results of votes cast by whomever decides, on that day, to vote.
The BC Liberals were elected in every election but the last, with just around 40% of the vote, and got to tell the other 60% of voters how things were going to be. This is how they want things to continue.
Want a much fairer electoral system, where your vote is guaranteed to elect a person who will represent your interests? Vote Yes for PR.
Daryl Sturdy, Vancouver
