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Letter: PR gives you a chance to enhance democracy

Dear Editor, Remembrance Day reminds us that twice in the last century Canada sent the flower of its youth to war to defend democracy.
Proportional representation
Two representatives supporting a change to proportional representation and two opposing it formed a panel mediated by Wallace Chan of Fairchild Radio and Hayley Woodin of Business in Vancouver. Photo: Megan Devlin/Richmond News

Dear Editor,

Remembrance Day reminds us that twice in the last century Canada sent the flower of its youth to war to defend democracy. But what is democracy?

For most of us democracy means citizens have the right to vote, the right to select the rulers.  How would you feel if after you slip your vote into the ballot box someone removed your vote and destroyed it?  You lost your democratic right.  Yet, that is what happens. 

On most election nights most British Columbians do not get either the local candidate, or the government they voted for.  If we could start all over and devise a new voting system, would we select one that wastes most votes, gives government to a minority, and results in an adversarial, inefficient governmental system where all decisions of importance are made outside the legislature by the premier and cabinet? Not likely, it would offend our sense of democracy.

You have received a ballot on electoral reform. It is an opportunity to enhance democracy, to contribute to the great cause for which many in an earlier generation paid the supreme sacrifice.

This is our moment in history. Do not fail it!

Nick Loenen

RICHMOND