By Daisuke Sawatake

It is still uncertain if an alternative electoral system will be recommended, but a fair vote campaign group is gearing up for a possible referendum on electoral change.
The Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform, an independent body authorized by the Ontario government to determine whether to adopt an alternative voting system to replace the current system, will reach its final conclusion on April 15. Should the assembly recommend an alternative system, the recommendation will be put to a referendum to be held in conjunction with the upcoming provincial election on Oct. 10.

By Daisuke Sawatake

Exploring Ontario's current election system, the 103 members of the Citizens' Assembly embarked on deliberation on potential recommendations likely to change the way Ontarians vote.

By Tasia Rivero

Concerned citizen Molly Mulloy thinks that the current electoral process in Ontario is "archaic" and says that it breeds voter apathy - especially in women and minorities.
Mulloy was one of 50 Northumberland County residents who gathered to assess Ontario's current electoral system at the Citizens' Assembly for Democratic Renewal meeting at Loyalist College last Monday Jan. 15.

Facilitator Barry Koen-Butt addresses the panel of Citizens' Assembly members in preparation for the consultation being held in Alumni Hall at Loyalist College on Jan. 15

Facilitator Barry Koen-Butt listens intently as Andy Hanson address the audience in Alumni Hall on Jan. 15 during a public meeting held by the Citizens' Assembly to discuss electoral reform.

By Tasia Rivero

Discussing democracy: Facilitator Barry Koen-Butt listens intently as Andy Hanson address the audience in Alumni Hall on Jan. 15 during a public meeting held by the Citizens' Assembly to discuss electoral reform.About 50 Northumberland County residents met to assess Ontario’s current electoral system at the Citizens’ Assembly for Democratic Renewal meeting Monday evening at Loyalist College.
This Citizens’ Assembly is a grassroots effort to assess the fairness and equality of the current electoral system in Ontario. The Assembly likens the task to buying a car: there are many influencing factors and you have to learn about all of them and order their importance before making a final decision.
The current electoral system is called a Single Member Plurality and referred to as the “first past the post” system because it resembles a race between the candidates. Voters choose a single person to represent their community or electoral riding. The winner must have more total votes than any opponent, but does not need more than 50% of the total votes in order to win a seat.

Facilitator Barry Koen-Butt listens intently as Andy Hanson addresses members of the public in Alumni Hall on Jan. 15 during consultations held by the Citizens' Assembly. Photo by Tasia Rivero

Young people feel disconnected from system and think voting is an unproductive way to influence voting system, said Jared Giesbrecht, a Queens University student.

The current system and tendency towards strategic votes is lesser of two evils, he said. Legitimacy comes from inclusion, involvement and co-operation, he added.

Matthew Gventer would like to see size of ridings reduced in size.

The social reality of our society is corporate power and wealth dominate elections, he said. A political party's ability to win seats would increase confidence of voter. Gventer called on the citizens' assembly to emphasize diversity and gender neutrality.

Tara Kainer said the current system doesn't count votes fairly.
The poor are marginalized under first past the post, she added. Most people understand is that a poor person's vote does not count the same way as a rich persons vote, she said.

Alistair Macleod says the current system imbalanced. All adult citizens must have right to vote under fair and equal conditions, he said.

Democratic ideal needs system with appropriately structured voting forum, he added. Current system leaves under represented voters, who voted for losing candidates on the fringe and forgotten in parliament.

Chris Horkins, a Queen's University student, said the reform to the system should reflect proportional distribution of popular vote, similar to systems in New Zealand and Germany.

Apathy in young voters is fueled by the fear of a vote being wasted. Horkins says many students don't vote because either they feel candidates who express shared values just won't win or they don't want to feel pressed to cast a strategic vote.

Democracy is more than one person and one vote, former journalist Tom Kent told the panel. True Proportional Representation systems require large mixed parties, which threatens the fabric of community ties to Queens Park, he said..

Deb Wells is leaning towards a mixed-member proportional system. The present system distorts views and creates defacto coalition governments that are forgotten once elected. Democracy is designed to be improved, she added.