I don't know whether Layton should speak up -- BC babblers please respond -- but I very much hope federal NDP MPs from BC will do so.

Many provincial MLAs may choose to stay silent in order to keep electoral reform a non-partisan issue, on the theory that the voting system belongs to the people, not the politicians -- which is very true. Also, a few BC New Democrats give priority to their self-interest in forming a government with a manufactured majority, and an MLA who speaks up for democracy might sound naive to some of his or her more cynical militants.

However, the federal NDP needs a win for proportional representation in BC in order to keep the issue on the table across Canada. Federal NDP MPs in BC can safely say our undemocratic voting system needs improvement, and they should.

I'm not complaining about their silence to date -- the drama in Ottawa obviously took priority -- but I hope they are now free to speak up.