To the editor,
Re: Voting system problematic in Ontario vote, Letters, June 12.
Replying to one of the letter writer’s concerns that proportional representation will undermine the rural vote in favour of urban dwellers, there is an option listed in the online, official explanatory booklet How We Vote called the ‘rural urban proportional voting system’ that addresses his concerns.
Rural voters will still be able to vote for a single candidate under a first-past-the-post system but can augment that vote if desired by also voting for a proportionately elected member to correctly reflect rural voters’ overall preferences. Does it sound complicated? Maybe, a little. But if you read it carefully you can see the current government has tried to overcome possible problems and make the outcome reflect as closely as possible the actual proportion of seats won to the number of people voting overall.
Canada, the United States and the U.K. are the only remaining democracies still using first-past-the-post. I’m sure we are smart enough and concerned enough to pay attention to the options given to make this a success.
Liz Fox, Lantzville
The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press or the Nanaimo News Bulletin. If you have a different view, we encourage you to write to us or contribute to the discussion below.