Bokhari guarantees 10 per cent of government seats to indigenous people

By: Nick Martin Posted: 1:53 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 24, 2016 Last Modified: 4:36 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 24, 2016 | Updates

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A Liberal government would give Manitoba proportional representation in the 2020 provincial election -- and indigenous people will be guaranteed 10 per cent of the seats.

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A Liberal government would give Manitoba proportional representation in the 2020 provincial election -- and indigenous people will be guaranteed 10 per cent of the seats.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/03/2016 (3490 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Liberal government would give Manitoba proportional representation in the 2020 provincial election — and indigenous people will be guaranteed 10 per cent of the seats.

“True partnership means our indigenous people have a seat at the table. Reconciliation means more than just words,” Bokhari declared Thursday on the steps of the legislature.

As with her previous election campaign announcements, Bokhari provided few details.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Rana Bokhari along with a number of her MLA hopefuls gathered outside the Manitoba Legislative building Thursday to announce that they would change Manitoba's voting system. — MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Rana Bokhari along with a number of her MLA hopefuls gathered outside the Manitoba Legislative building Thursday to announce that they would change Manitoba's voting system.

“The actual system, what the system looks like, will be done by consultation,” said Bokhari, who said she would listen to experts, whom she said included academics, stakeholders, and indigenous leaders. “I want to leave it to the experts,” she said.

Bokhari did say that she would not put proportional representation to a public referendum — she’ll decide on a new system based on her consultation.

Proportional representation is a system of government in which the number of seats a party holds is based on the percentage of the popular vote it receives.

Bokhari could not say how many seats the legislature could potentially have, but with the current 57, “It would be about six seats” guaranteed for indigenous people, she said.

Those six would be over and above any indigenous candidates elected through proportional representation.

However, Bokhari could not say whether the indigenous candidates guaranteed 10 per cent of the seats would have to declare a partisan affiliation, nor could she say how they would be chosen.

Asked if she would guarantee seats for women, Bokhari said, “You know what, this is about our indigenous population.

“As a woman, do I want gender parity? Absolutely,” said Bokhari, who said she recognizes how hard it is for women to get elected.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca