Ontario Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform Begins
On September 9th, 103 citizens from the Canadian province of Ontario met for the first time to review their provincial electoral system. These 52 women and 51 men were randomly selected from the voters list and, along with their Chair, compose the Ontario Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform. The Ontario Assembly is based on the renowned British Columbia Citizens’ Assembly and will follow a similar course.
The Assembly will study electoral systems this fall. The public can follow along through Assembly website or by attending any of the Toronto-based sessions. In the winter, the Assembly will consult with the public on what it values most in Ontario’s electoral system. Finally, the Assembly will recommend whether Ontario should keep its present system or adopt a new one. If the Assembly recommends a new electoral system, the Ontario government will put it to a referendum by the next election in October 2007.
