Tue 9 Oct 2007
Tomorrow is the Ontario General Election and Electoral Reform Referendum. I encourage you to get out and vote.
I will be voting in the Oshawa riding because it’s my current residence. I will be voting for Jerry Ouellette and against MMP. I’ve decided to endorse the Progressive Conservative candidate because in this riding it seems that the race is between the PCs and the NDP (Sid Ryan) (Third is Liberal Faelyne Templer). As well, it seems that Mr. Ouellette is the most experienced, and has vowed to vote against faith-based school funding. I will note that CAW president, Buzz Hargrove has said that there is no reason to vote NDP.
Polls are now indicating that the Liberals will get a majority.
Why is it that you oppose MMP? I don’t recall seeing an article explaining this position, and I would have thought you’d feel quite the opposite way.
Some of the reasons are mentioned here.
Quickly:
1) I prefer candidates over parties.
2) Parties could stack lists with unelectable supporters or use for affirmative action.
3) Less local candidates, larger electoral districts.
4) More MPPs = more money, 22 more+staff, etc.
5) FPTP is simple and people understand it.
To me, those seem like pretty benign drawbacks, considering the advantage of having smaller party voices heard.
I guess at the provincial level (moreso than federal), the “larger electoral districts” thing really is an issue, since the reps are supposed to be representing local interests. Nonetheless, there are plenty of province-wide interest groups that don’t have the good fortune to be in close geographic proximity.