The results of the public consultation by BC’s Democratic and Electoral Reform Committee are in, and the feedback the committee received was overwhelmingly for proportional representation.
Nearly 1000 people participated in the consultation, which included presentations and written submissions from individuals and groups.
Of the 865 presentations or submissions that included an opinion on the voting system, 93% advocated that BC adopt proportional representation.
Proportional representation was supported by 43 of 46 (94%) of organizations.
Only 2% advocated keeping our current first-past-the-post system and 5% advocated for other systems such as the winner-take-all ranked ballot (Alternative Vote).
The Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform is part of the Cooperation and Responsible Government Accord between the BC NDP and BC Green Party. It includes five BC NDP MLAs, two BC Conservative MLAs, one One BC MLA and one BC Green MLA.
Across the OECD, most countries that have adopted proportional representation have done so through a multi-party agreement.
“The committee asked for public feedback and the feedback was crystal clear”, said Fair Vote Canada’s Executive Director, Anita Nickerson. “British Columbians don’t want a polarized, two-party system. It’s time for proportional representation in BC. To get there, we need cooperation and most of all, political leadership.”