Certainly most everyone on this forum is quite familiar and well-versed in basic party politics and platforms, and strongly entrenched in certain ideologies and thus voted accordingly.

However, I wish to query the level of understanding concerning the recent referendum. The aforementioned referendum consisted of altering the electorate structure in Ontario from the traditional first-past-the-post (FPTP) system to a mixed-member proportional (MMP) system. What are your opinions on MMP and FPTP? Do you think the issue recieved sufficient coverage and explanation? Are we expecting too much from average voters, many of whom lack a basic understanding of party platforms, let alone the complexities of electoate systems?

At first glance it appears this should be in the Ontario section, but I think you are right that the basic concept of the question applies to the electoral system
in every province. People outside the province will not know what the proposal was, however...

In Canada, previous referendums on electoral reform were held in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island in 2005. B.C. residents came close to approving the idea, fell just short of the same 60% threshold set in Ontario. P.E.I residents rejected proportional voting 63.6% to 36.4% – almost identical to the result in Ontario.

IN BC though people actually knew what it was...

Here most people were clueless...

I think the thing that set more people off of the MMP is the fact that no party really said how the 'list' candidates were to be chosen and the fact the legislature left it up to Elections Ontario to do the education campaign but remain neutral through out all of it.

I think one thing too is that most people are saying the majority of people who voted against it were ignorant about what it meant. I think most people were fairly well educated about it, but didn't really see the point to switching systems. Plus, I know a good number of people who are fed up with FPTP representation and want change, but could never support MMP since they viewed it as worst and viewed voting for it as putting off a reform for proper electoral system for another 75 years. I'm glad that this gobbilty goup will be off for a few more years so the legislature can get back to work on issues that affect the common man better.

many opposed for many reason....

-the list!!!
-more politicians and people are very pissed off about politicians
-selfish reasons like wanting your own party to always stay in control

BC is apparently having another referendum on electoral reform.

BC is apparently having another referendum on electoral reform.

Yes, and I'm under the impression that the proposed substitute is the STV system, not the MMR. Can anyone confirm?

Please explain what STV is?

Please explain what STV is?

It is an abbreviation for 'single transferable vote'.

I'll direct you to two relevant sites for a proper explanation:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0417-e.htm

http://www.citizensassembly.bc.ca/public

Liberals have a majority with 77% of the seats, yet only 42% voted for them. Nearly 10% of the voters voted for the Green party, yet they have 0% of the seats. Can't really get more flawed than that.

We should vote for a person, not a party.
Canada has a dumb way of doing things.

"We should vote for a person, not a party."

But then who forms the government?

Maybe he means the no party system....


It would work in a small setting but Toronto city hall shows you its a bad idea for large governments...

I thought Toronto City Hall had a party system? I know Montreal has one, and I think Vancouver does too. Cities in Japan have their own parliaments, some have as many city councillors as Manitoba has MLAs!

They used to have a party system here in civic politics, but I don't think it exists on paper anymore.

I think Oaronuviss means there has to be a way of voting for which candidate you like in your riding, and voting for a party(2 votes).

It is an abbreviation for 'single transferable vote'.

I'll direct you to two relevant sites for a proper explanation:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0417-e.htm

http://www.citizensassembly.bc.ca/public

I think STV is the best of the proportional representation systems because it's PR on a local (i.e. riding) level - no lists required. I really hope that BC voters approve it this time - I have a feeling they will this time, considering how close the vote was last time. I think if one province goes PR, it'll set off a landslide of PR in Canada - the FPTP system is archaic, unrepresentative, and needs to be replaced.