The planned provincial referendum on using proportional representation to elect future B.C. governments is a non-starter for B.C. Liberal Party leadership front-runner Dianne Watts.

Dianne Watts, who will make two appearances in Kelowna today to drum up support for her bid to succeed former Liberal leader Christy Clark, says the NDP government香蕉视频直播檚 plan to hold the referendum next year is 香蕉视频直播渂ad for our province,香蕉视频直播� particularly for those living in rural communities.

香蕉视频直播淭his legislation will divide British Columbians, taking seats out of rural B.C. and moving them into urban centres,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is a significant issue as it will reduce the representation of rural communities. Let香蕉视频直播檚 be clear, proportional representation gives a bigger voice to one part of the province at the expense of the rest of B.C. I want rural B.C. to have an equal voice, not less.香蕉视频直播�

The NDP government announced plans for the referendum earlier this month. It was one of the promises made to the Green Party in return for support in defeating Liberals after it won the last spring香蕉视频直播檚 provincial election by a one seat, formed a minority goverment but could not overcome a joint NDP/Green vote of non-confidence.

香蕉视频直播淭his is (Green Party leader) Andrew Weaver香蕉视频直播檚 bill and it香蕉视频直播檚 flat out wrong,香蕉视频直播� said Watts. 香蕉视频直播� He knows this is his only path to political success and it is the crux of the coalition.香蕉视频直播�

She said there is nowhere else in Canada using proportional representation 香蕉视频直播渇or a reason.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he 香蕉视频直播榝irst-past-the-post香蕉视频直播� model is at the heart of our democracy and it works,香蕉视频直播� said Watts. 香蕉视频直播淧roportional representation will result in more unstable minority governments and the kind of backroom deals we are witnessing in B.C. right now.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淔irst past the post香蕉视频直播� is the system currently in use, where the winning candidate in a riding get the most votes. The party that wins the most ridings香蕉视频直播攐r seats香蕉视频直播攚ins the election and gets to govern.

There are a number of different forms of proportional representation and the type that would be used in B.C., if the referendum is approved, has yet to be determined.

The federal Liberal government included a pledge to change the electoral system federally during the 2015 election campaign, but has backed away from that saying it feels there is not a consensus across the country for a particular way to change the federal electoral system at this time.

That controversial flip-flop has garnered criticism from many who believed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he pledged during the 2015 campaign that vote the would be the last time Canada used the first-past-the-post system to elect a federal government.

Watts said not only would a change to proportional representation hurt rural B.C., the planned referendum success threshold香蕉视频直播�50 per cent plus one in favour香蕉视频直播攚ill put rural communities at a significant disadvantage in having their voice heard in the discussion.

香蕉视频直播淭he structure of the referendum is wrong,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚f urban B.C. decides this is a good idea, rural B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 voice won香蕉视频直播檛 even be heard.香蕉视频直播�

Watts plans to discuss a variety of issues facing B.C during her stops in the Okanagan, including proportional representation.