2007

Another election and another “go vote” plea from me. But wait this time there is a difference. You get to vote twice this time.

So like always I advise you to get out to vote on October 10th in the provincial general election. I won’t rehash all the reasons why you need to do this. (57% voter turnout last time, sooo sad!)

On October 10th you will also be given a second ballot. For the first time in 200+ years Ontario will get to pick how it elects members of the legislator. You will be given two choices: the existing first-past-the-post (FPTP) system and a new system, that was chosen by the Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform, called Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP). I think the members of the assembly did a great job. They spent 8 months studying all the different systems that are in use around the world. MMP is their choice for the future of voting in Ontario. You can see more about their work at: TVO

I encourage you to consider the new system. To me the best test of any electoral system is how closely the results reflect the will of the voters. By this test the MMP system is far better then our current system, FPTP.

FPTP is a great system for a country or province with only has two parties, this was the case when the system was first picked. I don’t feel that the diversity of ideas in Ontario can be well represented by just two political parties, and thus the FPTP system does a disservice to this diversity.

Remember that no electoral system is perfect. I encourage you to use the links below to find out more about your two choices. Figure what priorities are important to you and pick the system that best matches. (some are clearly for or against one system, it is worth reading both sides (minus the scare tactics))

• Elections Ontario
• Your Big Decision
• Citizens Assembly
• Vote for MMP
• Fair Vote Canada
• No MMP
• Representative Democracy
• Equal Voice in Politics
• Wikipedia Voting

I hope they help!

The advance polls in Ontario will open in two days. I really encourage you to go vote. It is one of the most important roles we play a citizens.

You will also be given a ballot on the referendum question, which asks if the system for voting in Ontario should be changed. You will have two choices: the current system called first-past-the-post (FPTP) and a new system proposed be the Ontario Citizens Assembly called Mixed Member Proportional (MMP). You need to understand what is being asked and what the two systems will produce for the province of Ontario in future elections.

I really encourage you to vote for the new MMP system. A group of 103 people from every riding in the province spent over 8 months studying the voting systems in countries all over the world. The looked at our current system and the problems that are inherent in a system that was designed for two party politics. MMP is a great compromise between various systems. Ridings still maintain a locally elected representative. The big improvement in the new system is that it produces results that are closer to the will of the voters. No longer would a party receive less then half of the votes cast and end up with over 60% of the seats and 100% of the power.

If you have questions or comments then please post them or email me. I am more then happy to convince you to vote for MMP.