The undemocratic nature of this is obvious, but the problem of correcting it is also obvious: The winning party has little incentive to make changes, which is why opportunities to alter this clearly flawed system come along so rarely.
Next month offers a rare opportunity. Ontarians get to vote in a referendum on an alternative electoral system – called mixed-member proportional (MMP) – when they vote in the provincial election.
Under an MMP system, which was overwhelmingly recommended by a Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform, Ontarians would vote as usual for a local MPP in a first-past-the-post system, but would also get a second vote for the party of their choice. In the end, the number of seats held by each party would reflect its popular vote.
http://www.thestar.com/OntarioElection/article/257555
[Proofreader’s note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on September 19, 2007]
Note: http://www.thestar.com/...
Democracy Well Served By Reform
Posted on Tuesday, September 18 at 11:51 by 4CanadaContributed By
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That said, do you remember this……….<br />
“The Conservative government indicated Tuesday it wants to begin public consultations by March 9 on "the challenges facing Canada's electoral system and democratic institutions'' and have a draft report completed before the end of May.”<br />
<a href="http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20070110073146873">http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20070110073146873</a><br />
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This from the NDP site…<br />
“The Conservatives have contracted-out our democracy to a private think-tank for almost a $1 million contract. The Frontier Centre for Public Policy's website includes links such stirring defences of the status quo as “Why I'm a Recovering Electoral Reformer,” “The Unintended Consequences of Electoral Reform” and “Canada Should Keep `First Past the Post' Voting System.”<br />
Cost to ordinary taxpayers: $900,000 “<br />
<a href="http://www.ndp.ca/scandalsheet">http://www.ndp.ca/scandalsheet</a><br />
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An extensive google search came up with no results regarding the content of the completed report. Has anyone heard or seen anything about the “draft report completed before the end of May.” Or has the $900,000 just evaporated without results?<br />
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<p>---<br>When you are up to your ass in alligators it is difficult to remember that the initial objective was to drain the swamp