(The following letter was sent to the Alberni Valley News, Times Colonist, Nanaimo News Bulletin, National Post, and Globe and Mail)
What an election on Vancouver Island. We rocked that vote. Turnout was a minimum of 72.6% in North Island-Powell River to 77.8% in Saanich-Gulf Islands. Well done all! (Data from: elections.ca)
Of course now people of all political stripes are feeling mixed emotions at the results.
National pundits seemed to chuckle on election night at Vancouver Island’s multi-coloured results, but are we really the most diverse population of voters in Canada or are we just the most willing to express our opinions?
I suggest it’s the latter, and the more power to us as an example of what Canadian democracy can and should be.
We should not feel handcuffed by an antiquated system into just 2 choices. We are a sovereign, unique, multi-party democracy and should be encouraged and enabled to express ourselves at the ballot box.
All the newly elected Members of Parliament should be able to see how Proportional Representation would have better served every one of their constituents on Vancouver Island.
As a first Act, the NDP and Greens, should force Mark Carney’s Liberal Minority to reverse Justin Trudeau’s original sin and implement all of that Parliament’s recommendations to implement Proportional Representation and improve our democracy. All Vancouver Island MPs should lead the charge.
Chris Alemany – Port Alberni, BC