Why Macleans Magazine's Coyne thinks BCers should vote YES for BC-STV

BC-STV received a ringing endorsement from one of Canada's best known commentators, Andrew Coyne of Maclean's Magazine.  Whether you agree with his other opinions or not, on BC-STV he is clear that this vote is important, not only for us here in British Columbia, but for the rest of the country as well.  As large numbers of people head to the polls in advance voting this week, please keep in mind that BC-STV is good for fairness, representation and democracy.  And vote YES!

Here is an excerpt from the beginning and end of Andrew Coyne's article, which you can read in its entirety here:

http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/05/07/a-vote-that-really-counts/

Dear British Columbia:
I know you're kind of busy right now, and maybe it's not my place,
being from another province and all, but could I just ask you, on
behalf of the rest of the country, to please vote Yes in the May 12
electoral reform referendum? I wouldn't intrude, except it's terribly
important-important not just for B.C., but for all of us.

Because politics is broken in Canada, and electoral reform-changing
the way we vote-may just be the key to fixing it.

B.C., you hold that key in your hands. If the referendum passes, it
will not only transform the politics of your province, it will put
electoral reform squarely on the map for the country as a whole.
Whereas if it fails in B.C.-after the failure of reform efforts in
Ontario, Quebec and P.E.I.-it may be the last we'll see of it for some
time.

....

So you see, B.C., it all comes down to you. If there's anywhere
electoral reform is most desperately needed, it's probably in federal
politics: the damage FPTP has done, particularly in terms of regional
ghettoization, is most acute there. But reform is most likely to occur
at the provincial level first. And that means you. You came so close in
2005, when you voted 58 per cent in favour of reform-just shy of the
required 60 per cent margin. If it's ever going to happen, B.C. is the
place. And now is the time.

So come on B.C. Pluck up your courage. Show us the way. Light a candle
for electoral reformers everywhere. We're depending on you.

Your friend,
Andrew
cc The Rest of Canada