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All electoral reformers and fair voters' eyes are on British Columbia as they embark on a process that could potentially reform BC's electoral system just in time for the next provincial general election in 2021.

The BC NDP government has launched its How We Vote website.  British-Columbians are being asked for suggestions on the question (or questions) that will be on a referendum ballot about reforming the voting system.  In its consultation process, the BC government is also asking citizens for their input about what kind of electoral system they would like to have.

Just like the Federal Liberals, BC New Democrats promised electoral reform and were elected partly because of that promise.  Unlike the Trudeau Liberals, the BC NDP are moving forward on the issue, having already introduced legislation calling for a mail-in referendum.

B.C. voters rejected electoral reform in two previous referendums.  Can a third one be the charm?  Electoral reform referendums were held in 2005 and in 2009, but the changes to the system were not approved by voters.  In 2005, 57.7 percent of voters favoured adopting a new system, but the threshold for that referendum was 60 percent of votes cast.  The next one will be held by the end of November 2018.  This time around, for a reform to be successful, the threshold would require a 50 per cent plus one margin.  A much easier target, but one going against the precedent.

So predictably, the Opposition Liberals are opposing the move.  They are claiming this is all about the NDP rewarding the Green party for propping them up.  Liberal MLA Doug Clovechok even went so far as saying this move was undemocratic:"Can you say, tyranny of the majority?  That's exactly what proportional representation under Bill 6 represents."

Yes, of course, as opposed to the tyranny of the minority, which is what you get when a majority of voters vote against a party who still manage to form a majority government, thanks to the distortion of the current first-past-the-post electoral system.  In fact, in the past five B.C. elections, only one political party formed government after receiving more than 50 per cent of the votes.

One of the most persuasive arguments pushed by PR opponents is that moving to a system of proportional representation will put more power in cities at the expense of the rural voters.  Yet, under the first-past-the-post system, one party can sweep every single seat in any region, leaving no representation for voters of other parties, no matter how sizeable their  numbers.

True, there needs to be a way to ensure that the voice of the electorate can be represented in a more diverse fashion while keeping a fair regional balance.  If they can successfully do this, BC will become the first province to move away from first-part-the-post.

You can count on the NDP and the Greens to campaign hard in favour of proportional representation.  The Liberals will be campaigning against change, a difficult task.  But they are terrified that PR is going to make it extremely difficult for them to get back into power.  The fact that 300,000 Liberal voters aren't currently represented in the legislature by someone they voted for won't sway the party: they know that with electoral reform, the bigger prize is slipping away from them for the foreseeable future.

Photo Credit: Jeff Burney Loonie Politics

The views, opinions and positions expressed by columnists and contributors are the author’s alone. They do not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of our publication.


t should be the easiest job in politics to earn more trust than Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne especially from members of the opposing party.  Having developed a rather spotty record in this area, Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown had the good sense to shift the conversation to policy with the release of the "People's Guarantee" at this weekend's party convention.  To the regret of many, we have no reason to expect a matching elbow.

Taking a cue from former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the PCs are eager to highlight five promises in particular: a 22.5% middle-class income tax cut, a 75% child care expense refund, a 12% hydro bill reduction, the "largest mental health commitment in Canadian provincial history," and new ethics legislation.  These five points are easy for most voters to remember, and relevant to a wide enough swath of them.  For more detail-oriented voters, there's much more to discuss.  Here are the best and worst of what the PCs have to offer for 2018:

THE BEST

Honourable Mention: "allow first responders to save pets trapped in hot cars without fear of punishment" (p. 69).

This is a relatively minor policy that will spark little disagreement.  It earns extra points for recognizing that people who neglect their pets, like people who neglect their children, deserve a smashed window or two.

#5: "mandate that all new elementary schools must include some form of child care spaces, be that all day or before- and after-school care facilities" (p. 33).

As the platform notes, 100,000 new child care spaces are already on track, but "they will not necessarily be located in the most convenient locations for children and parents, such as elementary schools."  Bringing these spaces together ensures continuity and convenience for both parents and children.

#4: "continue the expansion of the financial literacy pilot program into all secondary schools" (p. 70).

Sadly, all "they sure do need it" jokes have been exhausted, so we'll move on.  This would expand the pilot program that integrated "financial literacy, entrepreneurship skills, digital literacy, and career/life planning" into 29 schools province-wide.  By setting a goal to launch this program in all Ontario high schools, the PCs are filling a long-running curricular gap that will benefit every student.

#3: "dismantle cap-and-trade" (p. 73); "opt in to the federal carbon price backstop" and "return 100% of carbon price revenue back to Ontario families and taxpayers in the form of corresponding tax relief, as verified by the Auditor General" (p. 74).

If you're going to implement carbon pricing, this is the way to do it: by collecting the revenue in the most efficient way possible, and by holding yourself accountable for promised revenue neutrality.  Diehard carbon tax opponents won't be pleased, but two promised marginal income tax rate reductions (p. 35) may lower their defences.

#2: "introduce a new Ontario Child Care Refund to pay up to 75% of a family's child care expenses, or up to $6,750 per child (p. 31).

Delivery matters.  This refund is based on total household income, not the income of the lower-earning spouse; it will be delivered in monthly installments, instead of at the end of the tax year; and it ensures that lower-income households get the greatest benefit.  And because only child care-related expenses are eligible, there's less opportunity for any "beer and popcorn" cracks from the Liberals.

#1: "$1.9 billion to build a comprehensive mental health system" (p. 41).

$1.9 billion for an entirely new healthcare infrastructure sounds quite low.  That said, the PCs are correct that the "fragmented" services that are currently available are inadequate for a broad spectrum of mental health needs that cost $51 billion every year.  Their emphasis on suicide prevention counselling in Indigenous and Northern communities is especially valuable.

THE WORST

Honourable Mention: the document itself.

Who let this thing go to the printer?  It's rife with punctuation errors, typographical inconsistencies, misplaced graphics and unreadable text.  I'm surprised I didn't see the word "blurst" anywhere.

#5: "call on the federal government to match the new provincial subway funding commitment" (p. 54).

It's easy to fulfill a promise to ask another level of government for money.  It's also easy to blame that level of government for a project under your jurisdiction failing to move forward.  If a PC government wants responsibility for expanding subways, they'll have to take responsibility for paying for it.

#4: "The Scarborough Subway Extension should be built immediately" (p. 52).

The PCs are correct that Toronto needs more subways.  The Scarborough extension is not one of them.

#3: "bring back a Children's Arts and Fitness Tax Credit" (p. 32); "introduce a $500 Winter Tire Tax Credit" (p. 55).

Past studies have shown that tax credits for extracurricular activities for children often benefit upper-income families the most, and have little overall impact on participation in those activities.  As for the winter tire tax credit, insured drivers already enjoy discounted rates for their winter tire purchases.  Which brings me to . . .

#2: "eliminate geographic discrimination for auto insurance" (p. 55).

The platform cites a Globe and Mail article explaining that average rates in a particular area go up depending on such factors as traffic congestion, accidents, thefts, total numbers of claims, and claims costs and that good drivers will pay lower premiums no matter where they live.  Where's the discrimination?

#1: "distribute the remaining grocery store licenses and 12 pack LCBO allotments immediately" (p. 50).

That's it.  That's literally all the PCs have to say about the way we buy and sell liquor in Ontario.

Unbelievable.

Photo Credit: Toronto Sun

Written by Jess Morgan

The views, opinions and positions expressed by columnists and contributors are the author’s alone. They do not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of our publication.