CHANGING DEMOCRACY

  BC and the politics of Middle Earth   

proportional representation and past bc elections

The New Democratic Party of BC, under
Glen Clark, won the 1996 election but he
didn't get the most votes. The BC Liberals, under Gordon Campbell,  received support from 37-thousand more voters. Seat distribution and the FPTP system combined to give the NDP 39 seats, the Liberals 33, the Progressive Democratic Alliance one seat, and Reform BC two seats.

Under a proportional representation system the results would have looked very different.*

1996 Election Results under Proportional Representation

With Reform BC as a "coalition partner" the Liberals could have formed a  government with a comfortable five seat majority.

In the 2001 election, Reform BC and the BC Liberals joined forces to trounce the NDP government.   The "coalition" negotiations occurred behind closed doors.  Auckland University Professor, Helena Catt, believes the New Zealand MMP system is more transparent because negotiations between parties are more public.

In 2001, the BC Liberals swept to an overwhelming victory winning 77 seats and leaving the New Democrats with only two seats.

Under a proportional representation system the results would have looked very different.*

2001 Election Results under Proportional Representation

*(If a New Zealand system of mixed member proportional representation was used the results may be slightly different. These estimates are based on the New Zealand formula but without specific allowances for constituency seats won and the effect that has on party allotment.)