FVO commends the Ontario government's commitment to a citizens' assembly (Nov. 18, 2004)
November 18, 2004
FAIR VOTE CANADA - NEWS - November 18, 2004
FAIR VOTE ONTARIO COMMENDS THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO A CITIZENS' ASSEMBLY ON ELECTORAL REFORM
Fair Vote Ontario, a multi-partisan citizens' campaign for voting system reform, commended the Government of Ontario's plan to convene a citizens' assembly on electoral reform, as announced today by Premier McGuinty. The assembly will be charged with assessing the current voting system and alternatives. If the assembly recommends a new voting system, said Premier McGuinty, that recommendation will be presented to voters in a referendum.
"The Fair Vote Ontario campaign had called for an independent citizens' assembly, similar to that used in British Columbia," said Larry Gordon, executive director of Fair Vote Canada, the organization sponsoring the Fair Vote Ontario campaign. "While we await further details on how this assembly will work, we are pleased to see Premier McGuinty placing this process right where it belongs - in the hands of citizens."
"The voting system is the instrument that citizens use to elect the MPPs who form the legislature and the government," said Gordon, "That's why we need a reform process, like the one used in British Columbia, that is free of partisan or political interference. We are very pleased this principle was recognized and supported by the Premier."
Fair Vote Ontario members and volunteers, who had lobbied their MPPs for a citizens assembly, will now begin rallying citizens of all political stripes to learn how various proportional representation systems can be adopted to the Canadian and Ontario political environment. The principle behind proportional voting systems is to get as close as possible to making every citizen's vote count.
"This morning, Ontario became the second major province to put citizens in the driver's seat for voting system reform," said Gordon. "Three other provinces are currently considering reform and five have yet to take any action. We certainly call upon the other provinces, and the federal government, to follow the lead of British Columbia and Ontario."