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BC voters must plan now to give third party power balance

Our electoral system has consistently produced a very polarized two-party system that has had a devastating impact on our province.

To the Editor.

B.C. voters will soon be asked to perform the impossible task of getting rid of an arrogant and dysfunctional Liberal government, without opening the doors to the BC NDP, and see them form the next government.

Our outdated First-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system has consistently produced a very polarized two-party system that has had a devastating impact on our province.

It produces radical swings in policy every time the opposition party forms the government.

And two thirds of the voters are usually left at the mercy of the one third who forms yet another minority government miraculously holding the majority of the seats in the legislature.

Until such time that we are fortunate enough to have proportional representation, the best we can hope for is a third party to straddle the centerline of the political spectrum that will temper the more radical elements in both parties.

Today the BC Conservatives have one member in the legislature and with considerable support in the polls and two by-elections in process there may be a ray of hope.

The BC Conservative party insists their MLA’s will be obligated to comply with our Constitution and vote the conscience of the constituents.

That is a radical and long overdue departure from the style of governments we have today, where party leaders have become virtual dictators.

The provincial Conservatives are organizing throughout the province, and if we want the stability that will come with a third party holding the balance of power, we have to get involved with the BC Conservative candidates and help them get elected.

 

Andy Thomsen, Summerland