PR Outcome “Not Surprising”

PRINCE GEORGE – While many thought the Proportional Representation referendum results would have been closer, the 61.3% rejection of PR came as no surprise to political pundit Jason Morris out of UNBC.
He says there is a string of reasons for the outcome.

“The whole process was political and lots of British Columbians rejected not being able to see this in a non-partisan light, like the last two times with Citizens’ Assembly,” he explains. “We had a mail-in ballot. I know it shouldn’t be a real chore, but it nowadays, to get things to a mailbox. Not done during an election. As well, we had a tricky, three-way question that just flummoxed a lot of people who were hoping for some simple, straight democracy question.”

Long-time BC Green Party member, Hilary Crowley, says she was “devastated” by the results. She echoes Morris’ suggestion that the three questions may have muddied the waters a bit. And, in some respects, she appreciates the wider margin as a closer outcome would have results in more upheaval and challenges.