Themes from Consultation Meeting in Bracebridge

This is a summary of thoughts expressed by members of the public who attended this consultation meeting. If a point was made by more than one participant, it is included only once in the summary. The comments below sometimes contradict one another because they reflect the diversity of the viewpoints of participants.

Number of public participants: 45

Thoughts about Principles

Accountability

  • MPPs should work for their party and their constituents, but the concerns of their constituents are the most important.

Effective parties

  • Thresholds would keep the number of parties manageable and prevent extreme parties from winning seats, but should not be too high.
  • Smaller parties should be represented in the legislature.
  • We need to balance power in parties between the leadership and the grassroots.

Fairness of representation

  • We need to keep our local representation. MPPs should work for their ridings.
  • We need to make more votes count.
  • Results should be proportional (seat share should equal vote share.)
  • Strict proportionality is not necessary.
  • All areas of the province need to be represented.
  • Results should match the will of the people. Every citizen should have an equal vote.
  • Smaller areas should not be dominated by the GTA.

Legitimacy

  • Legitimacy comes from fairness and equality.

Stable & effective government

  • We need a balance between majority and minority governments.

Stronger voter participation

  • More people would vote if they thought their voices would be heard.

Thoughts about Ontario’s Current Electoral System

Participants highlighted these disadvantages of the current system:

  • Our system makes it hard for new parties to gain representation. The Greens received 10% of the vote in some ridings but elected no one.
  • Our system produces manufactured majorities. You can win a majority with 32% of the popular vote.
  • In our system, the opposition can be obliterated.
  • Our system is not representative of the will of the people. Not all votes are treated equally.
  • Our system ensures that a majority will have no representation.

Thoughts about Other Systems

Participants made these comments about other systems:

Alternative Vote (AV)

  • AV produces representatives with majority support. This makes the most people happy.

Mixed Member Proportional (MMP)

  • In MMP, party lists allow qualified candidates with specific expertise (e.g. knowledge of the environment) to hold seats in the legislature, even if they can’t win local ridings.
  • MMP combines geographic representation and proportionality.
  • MMP is very complicated.
  • MMP would increase voter turnout among youth because they will be able to make their voice heard.
  • In MMP, party votes don’t count for parties that have already won enough local seats.
  • In MMP, the party lists should be formed from riding candidates who lose (the “best losers”). All MPPs should have the same responsibilities. “Adjustment MPPs” could help in large ridings.
  • In MMP, adjustment seats should be filled by region.

Parallel Systems

  • Parallel systems make every vote count and give small parties representation.
  • In parallel systems (as opposed to MMP) the second vote always counts.
  • Parallel systems give people more choice by letting them split their votes.
  • In a parallel system, the party leader doesn’t have to represent a constituency and star candidates do not have to be parachuted in.
  • A parallel system would improve our system without changing too much. This would give a referendum a better chance of passing.

Proportional Representation (PR) systems

  • PR makes every vote count.
  • PR represents the will of the people.
  • PR broadens the debate to reflect the population.
  • PR encourages people from different backgrounds to run.
  • Party lists should be structured to increase the representation of women and Aboriginals.
  • In PR, it is easier to find an MPP with expertise to help us with an issue. We would not have to go to our riding MPP.
  • PR gives representation to extreme parties, but they can be handled.
  • PR would create constant minorities.
  • PR gives too much power to party leaders.

Other Thoughts

If the Assembly recommends a new system

  • The super-majority threshold is too high. It should be 50%+1.
  • There should be a referendum separate from the elections. If people don’t vote now, why would they vote in the referendum?
  • There should be a widespread education campaign before the referendum.

Size of the legislature

  • We shouldn’t add too many people to the legislature. It’s already too big. Adding more people doesn’t make the legislature more effective or representative.

Other comments

  • Consider online voting. This would increase youth participation.
  • We need more media attention for the Assembly.
  • Riding maps should be fairer. They are dominated by the larger cities.

» Return to Summaries of Public Meetings