Ontario electoral reform DOA

Ontario's referendum on electoral reform was a complete failure. Ontarians voted approximately two to one to keep our first past the poll system instead of the proposed MMP process.

The new system needed approval by a "super majority" of 60 per cent of voters and majority approval in at least 64 ridings.

Many feel timing, lack of information and communication as well as too many unanswered questions plagued the campaign from day one.

The globe and mail reported Dennis Pilon, assistant professor of political science at University of Victoria and author of The Politics of Voting: Reforming Canada's Electoral System as saying, "I don't think so much money has ever been wasted in educating people so poorly.”

The MMP system, recommended after seven months of study and consultation by 103 randomly selected Ontarians, would result in proportional election results: The share of seats in the legislature that each party wins would be roughly equal to its popular vote. Voters would get two votes: One for a local candidate and a second for a party.

The public and political leaders feel the campaign would have been more successful if it had not been during election time, as more focus could have been put toward understanding issues and policies.

The referendum was the first in Ontario since 1921.

The MMP process was also voted on in B.C. and P.E.I. in 2005. B.C. fell only three percent short of reform while in P.E.I. on 36 percent of the people voted for reform.

The fact is that no policies, laws, rules or procedures were even in place for the MMP process.

The Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform took a framework used in other countries such as Germany and New Zealand, but did not include any guidelines on exactly how the system would work for us other than getting two votes.

Notably, it was never mentioned that Italy reformed to the MMP process and they have not had a stable government for more than 47 weeks in about 30 years.

Without a doubt small or marginal parties need better representation, not to mention Northern Ontario in general.
The current system needs work and a working solution will eventually reveal itself.