The NDP/Green party alliance that governs B.C. wants to change the system of how we elect governments in this province, but they don’t want the voters to pick an alternative to the one we use currently.
They want to allow unelected so-called “experts” of the NDP government’s own choosing to determine the actual model of proportional representation, should voters reject the current first-past-the-post model. The NDP and Greens are advocating that a sitting government be able to determine a new system of voting.
This startling and breathtaking proposal to eliminate one of the tenets of basic democracy – that voters decide the voting system – is contained in a little-noticed document dated Feb. 28 and entitled the “Joint Submission to the How We Vote Engagement Process” from the NDP and Green party caucuses.
This fall, there will be a referendum on whether to keep the current first-past-the-post system or switch to a proportional representation model. So far, the NDP government has not said what the question will look like, but if the NDP caucuses’ view is anything to go by, look out.
The NDP and Green party recommend there be a single question on this fall’s referendum ballot, one that asks voters whether they want to stick to the FPTP system or if they wish to “support moving to a system of proportional representation.”
In addition, if there is a second question, the two caucuses say it should be a question “on the values” that should be included in a new system “as opposed to a question on specific systems.”
Yet, the NDP and Green caucuses do not advocate letting voters choose a specific model. Rather, they favour farming the actual details of how we elect governments to a “transparent and independent advisory board.” Recommendations would be for some kind of “made-in-B.C. system of proportional representation.” Essentially, the NDP-Green alliance is proposing to allow unelected “experts” of the NDP government’s own choosing to help set the rules for how the NDP government can be re-elected, with the NDP cabinet having the final say.
One has to wonder whether the two caucuses have someone like Vladimir Putin on speed-dial.
The caucuses’ submission is rather breathtaking in its assault on democratic values. And it arrogantly suggests that hand-picked “experts” know much more than the average voter and can be trusted to do the proper thing (as long as it leads to more New Democrats and Green candidates being elected).
The NDP government is already being accused of stacking the deck to ensure the referendum defeats the current system.
And now it appears the government caucus – in collusion with the tiny Green caucus – wants to ensure the fix is in come the next election as well.
Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global B.C.
