A newly formed Nelson group called nelson4pr has announced a meeting to push its campaign to support this fall’s referendum on electoral reform in B.C.

Ann Remnant, a local FairVote leader, said: “We have a rare opportunity in BC to update our voting system so that our government will truly reflect how we vote. Currently, half the voters do not help to elect anyone, which means that half of us might as well have stayed at home. That is no longer acceptable in a modern democracy. Proportional representation voting systems work very well in the vast majority of 94 countries throughout the world. The made for BC voting system will maintain rural representation and local accountability.”

The province is set to hold a referendum this fall that will use a form of proportional representation to elect its provincial politicians in time for the next election in 2021. The ballots will be sent out in fall 2018, for a vote completed before the end of November. The proposal would need the support of 50 per cent, plus one, of those who vote in order to be successful.

At a recent event in Nelson, veteran local politicians, Corky Evans and Alex Atamanenko both spoke strongly in favour of proportional representation. Current MLA, Michelle Mungall and MP, Wayne Stetski both sent their blessings.

The next nelson4pr meeting is on Sunday, April 15th, at 7 p.m. at the Senior’s Centre, Branch 51 at 717 Vernon Street. Everyone is welcome. The group is looking to expand and can be reached at nelson4pr@fairvote.ca

For more information contact Ann Remnant : nelson4pr@fairvote.ca kootenays@fairvote.ca

Phone: 250 352 7300 or 250 505 0329