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 government91裸聊视频檚 plan to hold the referendum next year is 91裸聊视频渂ad for our province,91裸聊视频� particularly for those living in rural communities.

91裸聊视频淭his legislation will divide British Columbians, taking seats out of rural B.C. and moving them into urban centres,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭his is a significant issue as it will reduce the representation of rural communities. Let91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

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 spring91裸聊视频檚 provincial election by a one seat, formed a minority goverment but could not overcome a joint NDP/Green vote of non-confidence.

91裸聊视频淭his is (Green Party leader) Andrew Weaver91裸聊视频檚 bill and it91裸聊视频檚 flat out wrong,91裸聊视频� said Watts. 91裸聊视频� He knows this is his only path to political success and it is the crux of the coalition.91裸聊视频�

She said there is nowhere else in Canada using proportional representation 91裸聊视频渇or a reason.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭he 91裸聊视频榝irst-past-the-post91裸聊视频� model is at the heart of our democracy and it works,91裸聊视频� said Watts. 91裸聊视频淧roportional representation will result in more unstable minority governments and the kind of backroom deals we are witnessing in B.C. right now.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淔irst past the post91裸聊视频� is the system currently in use, where the winning candidate in a riding get the most votes. The party that wins the most ridings91裸聊视频攐r seats91裸聊视频攚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 threshold91裸聊视频�50 per cent plus one in favour91裸聊视频攚ill put rural communities at a significant disadvantage in having their voice heard in the discussion.

91裸聊视频淭he structure of the referendum is wrong,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚f urban B.C. decides this is a good idea, rural B.C.91裸聊视频檚 voice won91裸聊视频檛 even be heard.91裸聊视频�

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