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Vote for MMP
Pro-MMP group calls on John Tory to affirm respect for citizen democracy
TORONTO, Sept. 24 - Noting that Conservative Party Leader John
Tory's name is listed on an anti-MMP website, the www.VoteForMMP.ca campaign has
called upon Mr. Tory to promise to follow voters' wishes should they vote to
implement MMP.
"Mr. Tory apparently has little regard for the work of the 103
regular citizens who toiled long and hard on behalf of their fellow voters in
Ontario's Citizens' Assembly," said Rick Anderson, Chair of the VoteForMMP.ca
Campaign. "Voters deserve assurance that a Tory Government will not show similar
disregard for voters' intentions should the MMP referendum pass, and that a Tory
Government would proceed to implement change in accordance with the Electoral
System Referendum Act."
On October 10, Ontarians will vote in an historic election
reform referendum, deciding whether to approve or reject modernizing of
Ontario's old-fashioned electoral system with reforms aimed at:
- making future legislatures more representative of votes
cast
- making every vote count
- increasing opportunities for women and minorities to be
elected, and
- allowing voters to vote twice in future elections, once
for their preferred local candidate and once for their preferred party.
Two years ago the Ontario Legislature passed an act establishing
an independent citizen-based process to consider Ontario election reform, in a
manner purposefully arms-length from partisan politics. The 103-member
Citizens Assembly strongly recommended that Ontario adopt the
"Mixed Member Proportional" (MMP) system for future elections. Consequently,
under the provisions of the Referendum Act, voters at large now have the
responsibility to accept or reject the MMP recommendation, in a nonpartisan
referendum where political parties are also precluded by law from campaigning.
"It is regrettable that Mr. Tory's name is being used to sway
voters one way or another in this important referendum," said Mr. Anderson.
"When this process commenced, the Legislature was very wise to have placed
redesign of Ontario's antiquated electoral system beyond the self-interest
gamesmanship of competitive partisan politics. It would be a shame if today
partisan politics are allowed to lower the level of thinking on this important
matter in the way they unfortunately do on so many issues."
"We encourage Mr. Tory to have his name withdrawn from the anti-MMP
website, and to state clearly to voters that their decision will be respected."
About Vote for MMP: Vote for MMP is a multi-partisan citizens'
campaign supporting the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system presented
to Ontarians for adoption in the referendum on electoral reform referendum on
October 10. MMP was proposed by the Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral
Reform, an independent body of 103 randomly chosen Ontario voters. Assembly
members were asked by the Ontario Legislature to (a) determine whether Ontario
needs a new voting system, and (b) if so to recommend an improved system. The
Assembly studied proportional electoral systems used in 81
democracies around the world, and selected MMP as the approach best-suited for
Ontario. Vote for MMP is funded by donations from citizens and organizations who
agree with the Citizens' Assembly recommendations, and believe it is time to
strengthen democracy and modernize Ontario's voting system that gives voters
more choice, fairer results and stronger representation.
For further information: Steve Withers, Media
Coordinator, VoteForMMP Campaign, Tel: (519) 282-1078, e-mail:
steve.withers@VoteForMMP.ca ;
Rick Anderson, Chair, VoteForMMP Campaign, e-mail:
rick@asci.ca ; Website:
www.VoteForMMP.ca
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