Horgan and Weaver host Pro Rep Day of Action in Vancouver in final stretch of voting

Horgan and Weaver host Pro Rep Day of Action in Vancouver in final stretch of voting
CHEK

John Horgan adressing the crowd at the Proportional Representation rally (Photo: CBC)

John Horgan addressing the crowd at the Proportional Representation rally (Photo: CBC)

With about two weeks left for voting in B.C’s electoral reform referendum Premiere John Horgan and B.C. Green leader Andrew Weaver joined together in Vancouver.

The “Pro Rep Day of Action” event saw both speak, promoting the new electoral systems.

“I believe we should have a vibrant democracy where voters have a wide range of choice,” said Weaver to the crowd.

“Under proportional representation, you get to vote with hope, for what you actually want instead out of fear against what you don’t want.” added Weaver.

“Proportional representation makes a simple proposition, 40 per cent of the votes will equal 40 per cent of the seats, it’s as simple as that,” said Horgan.

“It’s not like what we’ve just seen in Ontario where 40 per cent of the votes led to 100 per cent of the power, or in Quebec just months ago.”

Horgan made sure to again drop the words used in the televised debate with Wilkison saying that “pro rep is lit,” and that everyone in the room was “woke”

Following the event, the two went to the streets to canvass and urge residents to send in their ballots. As of Friday Elections B.C. received 597,3000 packages, about 18 per cent of the registered voters.

 

Horgan and Weaver were cheering with a crowd as some submitted their ballots (CBC)

Horgan and Weaver were cheering with a crowd as some submitted their ballots (CBC)

 

Groups in B.C. are also working in the final stretch to urge voters to keep the current system. The “No BC Proportional Representation Society” argues that replacing the First Past the Post system will create less stable governments and give a rise to backroom deals.

They also say proportional representation is confusing and could give rise to extremist parties.

Voters have the choice between answering if they want to keep the current First Past the Post system or change to a system of Proportional Representation. If they chose the latter they will be able to rank three different systems, Dual Member Proportional (DMP), Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) or Rural-Urban Proportional (RUP).

With Canada Post Strikes some are urging the public to mail in their ballots by  Nov. 23.

More details on the different systems can be found here

Read More: What you need to know about proportional representation in B.C.

 

CHEK NewsCHEK News

Recent Stories

Send us your news tips and videos!