An Okanagan MLA is drawing a connection between a new provincial political party geared to rural voters being unveiled last week and the pending referendum on proportional representation.
Norm Letnick, Liberal MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country, says while he welcomes the new Rural B.C. Party into the political fray, he questions what another party brings to the debate that the more than 20 existing political entities don鈥檛 already cover.
鈥淚 think if proportional representation passes, you will see many more parties like this start up and we believe that is going to reduce local representation for constituents. You won鈥檛 be electing an MLA, but rather one will be appointed for your area,鈥� Letnick said.
鈥淐ompared to current first to the post system, that reduces the current level of accountability. Depending on what form of proportional representation might potentially be adopted, you end up with an MLA you didn鈥檛 even vote for by a majority in your area.鈥�
Letnick said while he waits to see the B.C. Rural Party鈥檚 policy platform outlined in greater detail, he noted that both the party鈥檚 leader, Houston municipal councillor Jonathan Van Barneveld, and executive core team member Telkwa Mayor Darcy Repen, currently on medical leave from his civic duties, have provincial NDP connections.
Letnick pointed out Van Barneveld is a past president of the NDP provincial youth wing of the party, while Regen was an active supporter of Premier John Horgan鈥檚 election campaign.
鈥淚鈥檓 not sure what that says, but if they are disgruntled with the NDP, I would encourage them to join the Liberals,鈥� Letnick said.
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The B.C. Rural Party advocates for greater economic diversification opportunities for smaller rural communities in B.C. and reduce a reliance on mounting infrastructure debts.
The party gained official electoral status in February and hopes to field candidates in 23 ridings including Vernon-Monashee and Boundary-Similkameen within the Okanagan in the next provincial election. All their candidates would run in constituencies outside the Lower Mainland and Greater Victoria regions.
Letnick doesn鈥檛 see rural B.C. taxpayers losing out to the interests of the higher populated areas of B.C. because their MLAs must strive to bring economic and cultural benefits to their constituencies.
鈥淚f they don鈥檛 do that, voters have the opportunity to give the job to someone else. When you are elected, you are the representative for all constituents in your riding, not just the people who voted for you.鈥�
Enderby Mayor Greg McCune said he鈥檚 not sure how the B.C. Rural Party would benefit his community.
鈥淚 have not really heard much about them,鈥� said McCune, contacted at this week鈥檚 Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Whistler.
鈥淵ou can analyze the urban-rural split to death, but key for me is that our provincial representation is from our area and not someone appointed from another area who we don鈥檛 know.鈥�
Like Letnick, he too made the connection of a new party as perhaps a sign of things to come should the proportional representation referendum pass.
鈥淚 think when it comes to taxpayer dollars being spent, a lot of the taxes they pay in the Lower Mainland end up contributing to transportation and other infrastructure projects that benefit our rural communities, so there is a give and take there in where the influence lies.鈥�
Get ready for B.C. electoral reform referendum
Elections BC is encouraging eligible voters to get ready for the 2018 referendum on electoral reform by registering to vote or updating their voter information.
鈥淚f your voter information is current, you will get a referendum voting package in the mail this fall,鈥� said Anton Boegman, BC Chief Electoral Officer.
Voters can register or update their voter information online at or by calling 1-800-661-8683 on Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Between now and the end of September, a Referendum Information Card will be mailed to every household in the province to raise awareness of the referendum. Referendum voting packages will be distributed between Oct. 22 and Nov. 2.
For more information, visit .
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