Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform (Ontario)

The Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform was established by the government of the province of Ontario, Canada, in March 2006. Modelled on the British Columbia equivalent, it reviewed the first past the post electoral system currently in use to elect members of the Ontario Legislature, with the authority to recommend an alternative. In May 2007, the assembly recommended, in a decision of 94 to 8, that Ontario adopt a form of mixed member proportional representation (MMP).

Report of the Select Committee on Electoral Reform

The mandate of the assembly was created by the Report of the Select Committee on Electoral Reform of the Ontario legislature. It was made up of members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) from the Liberal, Progressive Conservative and New Democratic parties. The committee studied electoral systems and issued a report to the Ontario Legislature in November 2005. It recommended the assembly be provided the latitude necessary to recommend whatever electoral system is consistent with Ontario's (and Canada's) constitution. It assessed several alternatives.

Selection

Similar to the British Columbia equivalent, the Ontario assembly was composed of 103 randomly selected citizens, one from each Ontario constituency. As well, the selection process controlled for the age distribution of the province. The selection process for the Ontario Citizens' Assembly began in April 2006 and was completed in June 2006.

Prospective members of the assembly were selected at random by Elections Ontario from the Permanent Register of Electors of Ontario. Every registered voter was eligible with the exception of elected officials. Citizens that received an invitation letter were asked if they would be interested in placing their name in the draw. Of the approximately 12,000 respondents, about 1,200 were invited to attend selection meetings across the province.

Another assembly member, Rich Browridge, concurred with Baquero: "There's an awful lack of understanding on the proposition. I think that's too bad. Elections Ontario isn't doing its job. [...] There's been no real attempt at a major public education campaign, and that's what was needed."

Significance

The assembly process was premised on the idea that average citizens can come together to make good decisions on various policy issues by means of deliberating these issues. In particular, it is seen as a good method for studying electoral reform as politicians face a fundamental conflict of interest when it comes to evaluating the system that elects them.

Advocates of Canadian federal electoral reform considered the Ontario vote as crucial because they felt the adoption of proportional representation in Canada's most populous province would have provided impetus for reform and practical Canadian evidence on how proportional systems respond to voters. The referendum results and the way the referendum process was conducted stand as a warning to future attempts at electoral reform.

Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform (Ontario)

Report of the Select Committee on Electoral Reform

Selection

Significance

See also

References

External links