It’s no secret that the Green Party prefers proportional representation over the traditional “first past the post” system. Here is an open letter from prominent Ottawa-Centre Green, David Chernushenko:

As you are aware, another election is upon us; this time of the provincial persuasion. Although campaigns will be gearing up to once again put the Green option before voters, there is another campaign which I believe is of historic importance to Green Party members at all levels.

On the day of the election, October 10, there will also be a referendum on Ontario’s voting system – whether to keep the status quo (first-past-the-post) or adopt the Mixed-Member Proportional voting system (MMP) recommended by the Ontario Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform.

There are many merits to the MMP system – everyone’s vote would count, governments would be supported by a majority of the voters, and the legislature would better reflect Ontario’s regions, social diversity and political parties. The MMP system, which used in Germany, has seen the Green Party launched into government there and elsewhere (MMP is also in place in New Zealand, Scotland and Wales). It is based on proportional representation and would most certainly see Green Party MPPs sitting in Queen’s Park. This could start a cascade of electoral reform across Canada which could eventually reach the federal level.

Because of the importance of this historic referendum which could strengthen Ontario’s democracy (and allow the Green Party’s support to be fairly reflected in the legislature), I strongly encourage you to help out the non-partisan Vote for MMP campaign in Ottawa with your time and your donations.

Please contact Peter Black (Coordinator of Vote for MMP-Ottawa Campaign) at peter.black@sympatico.ca . And visit the web sites listed below.

Yours for a stronger democracy.

David

www.voteformmp.ca
www.fairvote.ca
mmpottawa.blogspot.com

Edit: Fixed a typo (“MMP” instead of “MPP”).