Debate heats up before Ont. referendum on electoral changes
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 7, 2007 | 4:12 PM ET
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Groups fighting for and against changing Ontario's electoral system agree that providing seats to parties based on their take of the popular vote will result in more minority governments and more power for smaller parties.
'We'll have politicians being chosen by other politicians.'— Mike Ufford, No MMP
But they're sharply divided about whether that's a good thing.
Steve Withers, a spokesman for the Vote for MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) campaign, predicts the changes would make a better government.
"They are absolutely wonderful," Withers told CBCNews.ca on Tuesday.
"You find that people have to actually talk to each other in order to get things done instead of just ramming things through the house like a rubber stamp."
Even though Elections Ontario only launched its referendum public education campaign a few days ago and although it is more than two months before the Oct. 10 vote, Withers said Tuesday that his group has been campaigning for weeks.
Meanwhile, the No MMP committee launched its official site Monday.
Under the proposed system, Ontario would be divided into only 90 electoral districts instead of 107. Another 39 MPPs would be elected at large, based on parties' share of the popular vote and lists submitted by each party.
No side says proposed system less democratic
The No side argues that the proposed system would result in a weaker, indecisive provincial government — and would also be less less democratic.
'Your vote counts from Kenora to Cornwall to Windsor, no matter who wins your local seat.'— Steve Withers, Vote for MMP
"One-third of the legislature will not be chosen by the voter, but will be chosen by the leaders down at Queen's Park, so we'll have politicians being chosen by other politicians," said No MMP chair Mike Ufford.
But Withers of the Yes campaign disagreed. He pointed out that the politicians would be chosen based on voters' party choices, from people selected by local party members, who may or may not be politicians.
Withers said it means each voter will be represented not just by his or her local MPP, but also by other MPPs in the party he or she voted for — regardless of whether that party won in the voter's electoral district.
"Your vote counts from Kenora to Cornwall to Windsor, no matter who wins your local seat."
The system is similar to the one that has been in place and worked in Germany and New Zealand for many years, Withers said.
He added that he has the sense that people in Canada are quite comfortable with minority governments such as that headed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"There are lots of people who look at that situation and say, 'You know, that's kind of a nice balance there.'"
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