Good evening.
Of all the battles we have fought for democracy in this country, this is the most important.
I know first-hand what it's like for your vote not to count. I used to live in Saanich, north of UVic, and no matter how many times I voted, the Reform/Canadian Alliance/Conservative MP Gary Lunn would get elected and re-elected. My vote never counted. I could not persuade my friends to vote, because their vote never counted.
I support proportional representation, because it takes the power away from political parties and gives it back to the electorate.
The minority and coalition governments elected through proportional representation and making decisions by consensus end up making better decisions. Throughout history, the best concessions we have been able to extract out of the government have been out of minority governments: universal health care, minimum wage, old age penson plan. On the other hand, majority governments take us for granted.
No more first past the post; no more one-man dictation by Stephen Harper; no more omnibus bills.
I would say no to a referendum, because masses could very easily be persuaded to vote against their own interests. In British Columbia, the referendum on electoral reform worked for all the wrong reasons.
I would say yes to proportional representation, and no to a referendum.
Thank you very much.