Editor:
Re: MLA says he won’t shy away from expressing his opinion, letter to the editor, Nov. 1
Thank you, Ian Paton, for taking the time to respond to my letter. Yes, of course, you are welcome to share your opinion with your constituents but I would remind you that a fundamental principle of democracy is that you represent our opinion, however divided it might be on any issue.
Perhaps you are on the wrong side of this debate considering the majority of Deltans did not vote for you in 2017 or do you need a lesson in plurality?
Furthermore, I would remind you that your opinion stops becoming an opinion when you specifically tell us what to do. We are not in the middle of a purely local issue, this is a provincial referendum – the purest example we have of direct democracy -- where the people get to determine the direction our wonderful province heads.
It is outright abuse of your office to tell us what to do in these circumstances, and I have the same low opinion about every elected official in B.C. spreading these messages – you just happen to be my representative.
I will not debate you on the merits or drawbacks of a change in our electoral system -- that is not the reason I am engaging you. I firmly believe the people should decide on this matter free of yours or our premier’s heavily partisan “opinion.”
My outrage comes from you using your position under the guise of local representation to toe a canned-party-line message indistinguishable from Liberal MLA to Liberal MLA about the evils of PR while conveniently leaving out the systemic issues FPTP inflicts on our society, and your open instruction to the people of Delta on how to exercise our right.
I will not shy away from stating my opinion that Delta deserves better than you, however our next member or members get elected.
Niko Condonopoulos
