With ballots on proportional representation already circulating across B.C., the Richmond Community Coalition (RCC) is putting its weight behind the “no” campaign.
British Columbians are currently deciding on whether or not the province should switch to proportional representation (PR) or remain with the current first-past-the-post (FPP) method of electing a government.
Local municipal slate RCC – fresh from the city council and school board elections two weeks ago – is actively getting involved in the referendum debate and is hosting community meetings over the next four weeks to explain what the referendum means.
In particular, the RCC will be explaining what it calls “the pitfalls” of PR and to help residents with their ballots, so that they have the opportunity to be part of the decision that will affect their lives.
“This is more than just an idle political commitment,” said, RCC president Rob Howard.
“It’s clear that we need to have a more proactive relationship between the communities in our city. Proportional representation will create supersized ridings and we will lose even more connection with our provincial government.
“Harmony begins at home and we will take this opportunity to connect with our communities and help them understand how PR will affect their lives.”
RCC’s recently re-elected city councillor Chak Au – who unsuccessfully for the BC NDP in last year’s provincial election – said he was “deeply concerned that there is a lack of understanding on what PR would do to my province and more importantly to the residents I represent in my city.”
“Ballots are arriving in the mail and I am getting calls from residents asking what it means and how they should respond.
“Residents need to understand that PR will confer power on people they have not directly elected but are appointed by their parties.
“Residents need to understand that people who might not live in Richmond or understand the diversity of our city will further disrupt the balance we work so hard to provide.
“This will confer power on people not directly elected but appointed by their parties. This is not the democracy that first past the post gives us.”
The RCC said it will reach out to generation X and millennial first time voters, ethnic communities, seniors, persons with disabilities, and all residents who “make up the fabric of our city to stay involved and help defeat a system that (Premier John Horgan) says requires a ‘leap of faith’ followed by ‘just trust us’ as they launch a flawed and unfair plan to change history with only a 50 per cent plus one vote to keep the Green Party in line.”
