To the Editor,
Instead of waiting until the next federal election to reform the voting system, we can tackle Senate reform and institute a fair electoral system for that body at the same time.
Each premier could submit a list of 10 names to their electorates, from which each province and territory can elect say, five, using the single-transferable vote system recommended by the B.C. Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. This allows a proportional system without interference by political parties, probably why it is less used than other proportional systems.
This would create an elected senate of 65 members with responsibility to the electorate of their province or territory, solving the problems of appointed senators who owe their allegiance to a party boss, and make other problems such as residency requirements obsolete.
It would allow voters to understand how and why proportional systems are used by 95 per cent of democracies worldwide.
Jim ErkiletianNanaimo
To the Editor,
Canada is a Liberal country even when Conservatives get the privilege of governing due to vote-splitting on the centre-left. Canada’s governmental infrastructure regarding health care and its many social programs have come about through Liberal-NDP co-operation in our history.
Although Trudeau’s Liberals achieved a majority this election, he is committed to electoral reform in the Throne Speech. Nine years of Harper’s Conservatives will do that to you. Converting Canada to a ranked ballots system will lead us to a more representative government. Conservatives are rarely anyone’s second choice. If 70-75 per cent of the population is centre-left, does it make sense to let the Conservative party impose its ideals on Canada? That is leaving the fox in charge of the henhouse and Trudeau is going to rectify that.
Who could argue with a more representative government if it is just and fair and brought about by a free vote in Parliament by our 338 elected representatives?
R.G. BurnettNanaimo