The electoral mail-in referendum on proportional representation (PR) British Columbians are now voting on isn’t the first and may not be the last.
Proportional representation referendums were held under Gordon Campbell’s Liberals in 2005 and 2009. And we could face another one in 2026.
If there is a starting point, it is likely the 1996 provincial election.
Glen Clark’s NDP won that race under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system.
But the party’s seat number actually fell. Frustrated, they sought where they were bleeding votes. Their eyes fell on the Green Party.
As a result, the NDP developed PR policy. Nothing came of it until John Horgan became leader in 2014.
Interestingly, the 1996 vote also frustrated Liberal leader Gordon Campbell, UBC political scientist Richard Johnston said. The Liberals won the popular vote but lost the election.
Then came the 2001 election, where the Liberals took 77 out of 79 seats in the Legislature. The Liberals took 97% of the seats with 57.62% of the popular vote. The NDP received 21.56% of the vote but got three percent of the seats.
Clearly, something was amiss.
The current referendum is the third on the issue since the 2001 election.
Why? Johnston said FPTP continues to frustrate politicians of all stripes as they win vote percentages not reflected in legislature seats or in who forms government.
2005 Referendum
In 2004, Gordon Campbell’s government created the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. Johnston called it the redemption of a pledge Campbell made to fix the system.
“He felt it was not appropriate to walk away,” Johnston said.
After 50 public hearings and 1,063 written submissions, the assembly recommended switching to PR under a concept known as the Single Transferable Vote (STV). The NDP supported the idea.
So, in May 2005, a referendum was held. Voters were asked: "Should British Columbia change to the BC-STV electoral system as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform?"
Under that system, the total number of MLAs in the province would not have changed. They would have been elected in 20 multi-member electoral districts with between two and seven MLAs per district, with voters ranking candidate preferences for those slots. To be elected, a candidate would have needed to reach a certain number of votes or an electoral quota.
The vote required two thresholds to be met for change to happen. Neither was met and the vote failed.
That year, the NDP 2005 platform under leader Carole James made no mention of PR.
2009 Referendum
In May 2009, Campbell’s government again polled the electorate on the STV concept.
This time, voters were asked to choose between STV and FPTP. Again, there were two thresholds. Voters rejected the idea in larger numbers than 2005. It failed to meet either threshold.
The NDP 2009 election platform under James made no mention of voting reform.
2018 Referendum
Now, Johnston said, the Greens are frustrated.
They want a system reflecting their popular vote – 16 percent compared to the Liberal-NDP dead heat in the 2017 FPTP election.
Johnston said under PR, wins are easier for parties on the left or in geographically diverse areas.
“Under first-past-the-post, the deck is actually stacked against parties on the left,” he said.
This time, voters have two choices.
The first question is a simple Yes or No on whether or not to change to PR.
However, unlike 2005 and 2009, there’s a second question.
Voters choose one of three systems: dual member proportional, mixed member proportional or rural urban proportional. The latter two are new, untested concepts.
This time, 50% plus one vote in support of PR would prompt one of the three options to be chosen.
Former NDP MLA Leonard Krog, the mayor-elect in Nanaimo, said voters needn’t vote in both sections.
But, he said, if they vote Yes in the first section, a choice in the second section gives the government guidance on how to move forward.
Johnston said while politicians spar over PR, there is no hunger for this referendum.
And the referendum could beget another one. If the vote passes, a further referendum would be held in 2026 after two elections to test if British Columbians want to retain the new system or return to FPTP.
