The Ballot - October 2006
Welcome to the October issue of The Ballot!
In this issue:
From the Chair
Now that we’ve passed the halfway mark of the Learning Phase, my fellow Assembly members and I are looking forward to public consultation. At our last couple of meetings we spent time discussing plans for consultation and approving a guide, Citizens Talking to Citizens which we developed to help you participate in the Assembly process.
There are different ways to participate in this process. You can attend a public consultation meeting as an observer or to make a presentation, or send written comments to the Assembly through our website or other means.
The Learning Phase has given us a great deal to think about, but it is vital that we hear the views of Ontarians before we come together as an Assembly to deliberate. Tell us what is important to you in an electoral system and what system you think is best for Ontario now; don’t wait until after the Assembly has made its recommendation to share your views.
George Thomson
The Consultation Window is Open!
The Assembly wants to know what you think about electoral reform in Ontario. Members have developed a plan to solicit your input through written comments and presentations at public meetings.
Public meetings will be held at various locations across the province from late November 2006 through February 2007. Written comments will be accepted from now until January 15, 2007. This deadline will give the Assembly time to consider all submissions before the Deliberation Phase begins in February.
The Assembly’s consultation guide, Citizens Talking to Citizens is available in English and French on our website and through Service Ontario outlets across the province. Please contact the Citizens’ Assembly Secretariat at 1- 866-656-9908 if you would like a copy of the guide in an alternative format (e.g. large print).
Visit our website to find out more about how you can have your say. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this historic process!
Meanwhile the Learning Phase Continues...
Assembly members met as a group for the first time on September 9th and 10th. Jonathan Rose, the Academic Director, led members through an introduction to the Learning Phase and a discussion about electoral systems and what they can accomplish.
In addition, members were fortunate to have the opportunity to meet the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and tour the Legislative Assembly at Queen’s Park.
Assembly meetings are held at Osgoode Hall, York University (Keele Campus) and all plenary sessions are open to the public. An outline of the Learning Phase follows. A detailed schedule is available on our site.
Weekend 1
September 9-10 |
Creating Community |
Weekend 2
September 30 – October 1 |
Parliament, Parties and Values |
Weekend 3
October 14-15 |
Electoral Systems I
Plurality/Majority
> discussion of First-Past-the-Post |
Weekend 4
October 28-29 |
Electoral Systems II
Proportional Representation/Mixed Systems |
Weekend 5
November 11-12 |
Values and Electoral Reform
> international experiences |
Weekend 6
November 25-26 |
Simulated Elections |
The Ballot Box with Dr. Rose
In this issue we stay in Canada, but go north of 60 to see how candidates run and governments are formed in the Northwest Territories (NWT) and Nunavut—our newest territory.
Single-Member Plurality is the system used in Ontario and all other Canadian provinces and territories. The Northwest Territories (NWT) and Nunavut are no exception. The system is often called “First Past the Post” because it works a bit like a horse race. There is only one winner in each electoral district or riding, and the winner simply has to finish ahead of the other candidates. The winner needs more votes than any other candidate (a plurality) but does not need a majority (50% plus 1) of the votes.
Typically in Single-Member Plurality, when you vote for a candidate, you’re also voting for that candidate’s political party. They’re one and the same. This is where politics start to differ in the NWT and Nunavut: they have no political parties. Instead, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are elected as independents. Throughout the rest of Canada, the Premier is the leader of the party with the most number of seats and chooses the Cabinet. In the NWT and Nunavut, the Premier and Cabinet are voted in by secret ballot by all the members of the legislature.
While governments in the rest of Canada tend to be single parties that control a majority of seats in the legislature, in these territories, the government is always in a minority position. Out of 19 MLAs in each legislature, only seven (NWT) or eight (Nunavut) are members of Cabinet. That leaves a majority of “regular members” to serve as the unofficial opposition in the legislature and keep the government in check. As a result, regular members can exert considerable influence on government decisions.
Some may see the absence of parties as inconsistent with our parliamentary democratic traditions. Others may argue that the governments of NWT and Nunavut are models of consensus decision-making more in keeping with aboriginal traditions. And that without parties and party discipline, members may vote as they wish and represent the wishes of their constituents. Whatever your point of view, one thing is clear: when it comes to electoral systems, context and culture matter.
The Students’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
Through the Students’ Assembly on Electoral Reform 103 young people, selected through an online application process, will gather from November 15 to 19, 2006 to participate in a process that will mirror the Citizens’ Assembly. Many more students will become involved through special curriculum in high school civics classes.
Students will learn about Ontario’s current electoral system, alternative systems in use around the world as well as the values and outcomes associated with each. Participating students will recommend an electoral system that they feel best reflects the values of young Ontarians and prepare a report to submit to the Citizens’ Assembly.
Our Partnership with TV Ontario
Under this partnership TVOntario, will be the "media partner” for the Assembly. In that role, TVO will work with Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology and potentially other college collaborators to film the Learning and Deliberation Phases of the Citizens’ Assembly. Key to the partnership is TVOntario’s plan to build a micro-site on their tvo.org web site to stimulate public dialogue on electoral reform.
Visit TVOntario’s website to watch live web casts of learning sessions, video of past sessions, member profiles and more.
New on Our Site
New content is being added to the Citizens’ Assembly website every week. Recently launched areas include:
- New and improved public forum
- Download a copy of the Assembly's consultation guide "Citizens Talking to Citizens" from our homepage.
Contact Us
Questions or comments about The Ballot? Send an e-mail to: theballot@citizensassembly.gov.on.ca