By Greg Fry

Chamber of Commerce wants clarity on electoral reform

May 3, 2018 | 12:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce doesn’t think the provincial government has been as forthcoming as it should be on this fall’s scheduled referendum on proportional representation.

Board of Directors President Joshua Knaak says the chamber is really asking for two things: first, to clearly define the method of proportional representation up for debate, and two, to ensure a non-partisan review of the system and to determine what its impacts will be.

“We’re basically saying, spell it out and slow down this process. There’s no rush. I mean, this is a big decision and it’s one that we need to make thoughtfully and carefully and with all the information,” he says. “Somebody needs to step up and say, ‘This is what we’re looking at, this is why we’re looking at it and here are the anticipated results of what this will be like.’ And let us vote on that.”

Knaak adds one thing the business community finds very important when it comes to the type of electoral system chosen, is “stability.”

“I think when you are making investment decision, whether they’re already businesses operating in B.C. or other businesses considering looking at B.C., stability and predictability of governments is very important.”

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Knaak says the chamber’s policy recommendation, which was made in concert with the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, will be up for debate at the B.C. Chamber of Commerce’s AGM in Kamloops later this month (May 24-26).