[fvc-wat-disc] [Fwd: The fight for fair voting]

Fri Oct 12 22:37:56 EDT 2007

I think you guys should take note of the following message from Vote 
Fore MMP.
/Alan

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	The fight for fair voting
Date: 	Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:26:49 -0400
From: 	Vote for MMP <info at voteformmp.ca>
Reply-To: 
reply.1.35.130110.7898e41868015eee7e1347bbf42104205f432e8f-AlanAngold=rogers.com at civimail.voteformmp.ca 

To: 	Alan Angold <AlanAngold at rogers.com>

*Dear Friends and Supporters,*

Yesterday, I wrote the following email, but the steady stream of media 
interviews and other campaign wrap-up activities delayed its release. 
Then, in the subsequent 24 hours, something really amazing happened -- 
spontaneous, unplanned, all across the province. And it 
will dishearten proponents of the status quo. 

The blizzard of letters to the editor, the surge of emails throughout 
our network, and young people asking how to start new Fair Vote 
chapters say it loud and clear: the fight for fair voting only ends 
when every province and the entire country have fair voting systems.

As one supporter wrote: "For those of us who have become convinced that 
a voting system designed for the 18th century has no place in the 21st, 
the next referendum campaign has already begun."

This morning, I'm sitting here with a grin on my face.

Larry Gordon
Campaign Manager
Vote for MMP

*[written on October 11, 2007]*

For the past several months, thousands of us joined together in an 
effort to make the Ontario referendum the breakthrough event for fair 
voting in Canada.

We fell short on winning that immediate victory, but should not ignore 
what was accomplished. Despite a pathetically inadequate public 
education program from Elections Ontario, more than one-and-a-half 
million Ontarians cast a ballot for mixed-member proportional (MMP). 
More voted for MMP than for three of the four major parties.

Unfortunately, more people cast votes for first-past-the-post, but no 
one should interpret that tally as votes for the status quo. Mixed in 
that tally were many votes from people who did not have the information 
available to evaluate the alternatives, as well as those who supported 
some type of proportion voting reform, but not the version on the ballot.

Not only did our campaign mobilize an energetic and highly motivated 
grassroots network in recent weeks, but we also attracted an amazing 
list of endorsements from notable Ontarians. If you haven't scanned the 
list recently, check it out:  http://www.voteformmp.ca/en/full_list. 
Those of us who voted for MMP were in good company.

In a message to local volunteers this morning, Peter Black, the Ottawa 
campaign manager, put it this way: "Well, 37% voted for MMP and the 
press called it a resounding defeat. Only 42% votes for Mr. McGuinty and 
the press call it a resounding victory. That's first-past-the-post for you!"

And since we're doing quotes, those who have been active in the Fair 
Vote network since its inception in 2001 will enjoy this one from 
Mahatma Gandhi: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then 
they fight you, then you win." 

Back in 2001, we were in the "ignore" stage, quickly followed by the 
"laugh at you" stage. Beginning with the BC referendum in 2005 and in 
the past few months in Ontario, we moved into the thick of the fight.

Below you will see the press release we issued this morning, which 
includes a quote from Rick Anderson, our campaign chair, noting why we 
should all remain optimistic that voting reform is not a matter of "if", 
but "when".

"Several days ago, a poll illustrated a huge generational divide on the 
electoral reform issue. Had this referendum been limited to voters 
between ages 18 and 34, we would have easily exceeded the 60% threshold, 
according to the poll. The younger generation is clearly not going to 
tolerate the antiquated political machinery of a bygone era," said 
Anderson. "Electoral reform is now on the agenda of the nation and even 
skeptics, such as Professor Nelson Wiseman, concede that the 
introduction of proportional voting in Canada is now just a matter of time."

After the dust settles and we all have a chance to rest and recharge, 
we'll begin gearing up for the next round in the fight for fair voting. 

The BC referendum is just two years away, a charter challenge against 
first-past-the-post may be on the horizon, and other opportunities will 
be emerging as we move forward.

In the meantime, on behalf of the campaign team, thanks for your 
support, hard work and enthusiasm.  

Larry Gordon
Campaign Manager
Vote for MMP

******************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

Another unbalanced legislature demonstrates need for electoral reform

TORONTO – October 11, 2007:  Yesterday's Ontario election once again 
produced results mismatched with voter preferences, and a 
phoney-majority government facing a weaker opposition than Ontarians 
voted for.

The 58 per cent of Ontarians who voted for opposition parties received 
only 33 per cent of the seats, significantly weakening the checks and 
balances needed for accountable and effective government. Meanwhile, the 
party receiving just 42 per cent of the vote has been given a false 
"mandate" to act as though it enjoyed majority support of the electorate.

"This week's election results in both Ontario and Newfoundland underline 
the need for the electoral reform process to continue in Ontario and 
across Canada," said Rick Anderson chair of Vote for MMP, the campaign 
that supported the mixed member proportional alternative proposed by the 
Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform.

Had the mixed member proportional (MMP) system proposed in the 
referendum been used in this election, with similar voting patterns the 
resulting Legislature would have been very different, and more in line 
with voters' choices:

- The Liberals' 42% would have earned approximately 59 seats, rather 
than 71.

- The Progressive Conservatives would have had about 39 seats, rather 
than 26.  As in 2003, the Tories would have gained more under MMP than 
any other party and been much better able to provide 
numerically-effective opposition to the Government

- The NDP would have had about 21 seats rather than 10.

- The Green Party, whose 352,000 voters are today totally unrepresented 
in the Legislature, would have earned about 10 seats.

Anderson cautioned against the usual overstatement of the re-elected 
government's "mandate".  "Many more Ontarians voted for the other three 
parties - for the Progressive Conservatives, NDP and Greens - than voted 
for the Government," said Anderson.

"Likewise, Newfoundlanders are now cursed with a wildly unbalanced 
Legislature and unopposed government, where the 30% of voters who voted 
for the opposition received only 8% of the seats - and the Government 
has a totally free hand to do as it will. This is no way to practice 
democratic governance."

"Unfortunately, Ontario's historic referendum opportunity was marred by 
a pathetically-inadequate public education campaign by the Legislature 
and Elections Ontario. A cornerstone of democratic decision-making is 
the concept of an 'informed voter'.  But neither the Legislature nor EO 
ensured that voters had the substance of the Citizens Assembly's 
report," said Anderson. "Instead, voters had little or no information, 
coupled with a great deal of misinformation from opponents of reform."

Anderson also noted that those who cast votes for the status quo are not 
only voters who actually support the antiquated first-past-the-post 
system. Included in that tally are those who felt they had far too 
little information to vote for something new and those who actually 
support electoral reform, but would like to see a proportional system 
with different features.

Anderson said last night's referendum result is more a delay than defeat 
for those who want to see a new voting system that gives voters more 
choice, fairer results and stronger democratic representation.

"Several days ago, a poll illustrated a huge generational divide on the 
electoral reform issue. Had this referendum been limited to voters 
between ages 18 and 34, we would have easily exceeded the 60% threshold, 
according to the poll. The younger generation is clearly not going to 
tolerate the antiquated political machinery of a bygone era," said 
Anderson. "Electoral reform is now on the agenda of the nation and even 
skeptics, such as Professor Nelson Wiseman, concede that the 
introduction of proportional voting in Canada is now just a matter of 
time."

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/This communication is Authorized by the CFO of Vote for MMP
215 Spadina Ave.
Suite 400
Toronto, ON M5T 2C7-
Canada/

If you are unable to see this e-mail or click through any of the links 
provided, please visit http://www.voteformmp.ca

-- 

..................................................................
Alan Angold <AlanAngold at rogers.com> 
549 Sandbrooke Court, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2T 2H4
Home:(519) 747-5535

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