Are still you confused over Proportional Representation?
Prince George residents who are still on the fence can attend an information session tonight, 7:30PM at the public library hosted by Fair Vote Prince George.
One of the biggest concerns is how the north will be represented due to our smaller population leading many people to believe we’ll have fewer MLA’s under PR.
However, there is an option where a couple of ridings could merge together and still be represented by the same people we have now.
“Dual-member would have joining ridings paired up. In Prince George, we would probably have Prince George-Peace River and Prince George-Vanderhoof become a two-member district by two MLA’s just as we are now and if you go downtown you will see there is one federal office for both ridings,” said Jay Sanders, Chair.
The Prince George area is currently represented by MLA’s Mike Morris, John Rustad, and Shirley Bond.
Sanders is looking forward to dispelling the myth Northern BC would have fewer representatives under PR.
“All three systems preserve local representation, there would be representatives from the ridings or from the area and possibly even both.”
Proportional Representation is very popular across the pond in Europe with countries like Belguim, Denmark, Finland, and Norway enjoying success with it.
Sanders is of the opinion PR better represents our evolving society.
“It’s an impulse to modernize our system what we have are the leftovers from the Westminster style which works very well for two parties but as society has evolved and more people get involved in the political process it’s not as good of a fit.”
The group believes PR is a better way for people to feel their vote actually matters in political elections.