shattering the glass ceiling
Filed Under Events, Tips & Tricks | April 28, 2009
With all the lawn signs and happy, positive commercials (grin) popping up, it is hard not to know we have a provincial election on May 12th. But did you know that we also have a referendum on our electoral system?
We’ll be choosing between the current First Past the Post and Single Transferable Vote (BC-STV). The 160 voters on the Citizens’ Assembly recommended BC-STV, after a year spent talking to British Columbians and studying electoral systems.
You’ll hear a lot more about BC-STV in the next two weeks, but you might not hear much about how BC-STV will improve women’s representation.
Ever wonder why we elect so few women? A paltry 24% of BC MLAs are women. First Past the Post, has the worst record on women’s representation of any electoral system. We like to think of Canada as a shining beacon for equality, but we rank 52nd in the world on women’s representation.
We have a chance to get rid of one of the most significant barriers to women in politics on May 12th and we should grab the opportunity with both hands.
Single Transferable Vote has elected 42-45% women. These are amongst the best results in the world.
Why does it matter? Look around you at school pick up, or the doctor’s office -lots of mamas. There’s a reason they call education and healthcare ‘motherhood issues’—it’s often the mamas with invaluable first hand experience. That’s just one example, but we think better decisions get made when many voices are heard, and there aren’t enough women at the table right now.
Of course women’s representation isn’t the only thing about politics that will change with BC-STV. We think it just might be the most important vote you ever cast, so learn more and forward to your friends.
Shoni Field was a member of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. She is a spokesperson for the grassroots BC-STV campaign and a graduate of the Women’s Campaign School.
7 Responses to “shattering the glass ceiling”
Leave a Comment
Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
What bothers me about the current debate on electoral reform is that STV proponents present it as a panacea for numerous electoral woes including representation of women.
It’s entirely possible the number of women may increase under this system. But it is far from guaranteed.
STV is somewhat proportional but not very much. It is possible that STV elections will bring about results that are more aligned with the popular vote for particular parties. But not guaranteed.
Same goes for the possibility of electing independents and third and fourth parties. Some might squeak in but those possibilities are distinct long shots.
I think STV is a deeply flawed system. And we already know that the current system is deeply flawed as well. For me this is a choice between the lesser of two evils.
Thanks so much for the great article on STV and not being afraid to take a stand for a positive change to our electoral system. This is one of the most exciting opportunities we have ever had to improve democracy in BC. Way to go!
Kris Klassen said: “It is possible that STV elections will bring about results that are more aligned with the popular vote for particular parties. But not guaranteed.”
What is guaranteed is that the current system will produce horribly distorted election results, and throw up barriers to the election of women and minorities.
Happens every time.
When will we learn?
Vote for BC-STV on May 12!
First past the post is a horrible system for today’s cultures. Most people seem to agree on this.
Folk like @KrisKlaasen often paint STV as scary and broken too, but I’ve never seen or heard anyone explain to me *why* STV is so bad, or what’s so wrong with it. I’m trying to keep an open mind, but all I hear is fearmongering … and I react poorly to fearmongering.
Can someone give me any reasonable arguments *against* BC-STV?
http://www.elections.bc.ca/index.php/ref2009/opp-prop-stmts/
these are the short statements pro and con from the elections BC website.
Thanks for the link. The con statement boils down to “we don’t understand how it works”, which doesn’t seem like an persuasive argument. The large riding/accountability argument at least is reasonable but one I don’t buy for the simple reason that it is based on some sort of assumption that our current MLAs are accountable in some way now that they won’t be under STV. It’s also based on fear of the unknown which might be assuaged by seeing that STV systems works quite well in other parts of the world.
Does that mean that the con side is simply: 1) It’s too complicated, and 2) Fear of the unknown/change?
If that’s the case, then I hope BC has the courage to bring real change in two weeks.
With the debate over and the votes in it seems clear that the more people learned about STV the more they disliked it.
While I am interested in electoral reform and do not defend the current FPTP system, it’s inaccurate to say (quoting Wayne Smith) “What is guaranteed is that the current system will produce horribly distorted election results, and throw up barriers to the election of women and minorities.”
The results in the last election bear this out.
We DO need change and a system that better reflects our society and voters wishes. STV is not it.
That said, much has been made about low voter turnout in the BC vote. I doubt very much that the electoral system had much to do with that at all. The Liberals won this election because they were superior campaigners. Both the NDP and the Greens were lost and unfocused.