Post by Michele on Aug 24, 2007 11:15:19 GMT -5
Thought this was worth sharing ;D
Hi everyone:
Most people are unaware that there will be a referendum in Ontario on Oct. 10th. When you go to vote, you will also be asked if you want to change the way we elect our leaders. I'm not offering an opinion either way, but wanted to pass on an impartial article that a friend sent to my paper.
Thanks,
Mark Moran
P.S. Anyone is welcome to sponsor me for the Terry Fox Run on Sept. 16th
P.P.S. Jittersauce is playing Dow People Place on Labour Day and the
Pumphouse in Petrolia on September 14 & 15 (Streetdance night).
P.P.P.S. The Scotch Prophets are playing in Petrolia tonight and tomorrow.
AN HISTORIC VOTE IN ONTARIO
sent in by Bob McCarthy, Sarnia (Lambton County historian)
Since Ontario (then known as Lower Canada) first elected a parliament in 1792, we have gone to the polls as a province on only five occasions (1894, 1902, 1919, 1921, 1924) to vote on a Referendum question. On each of these occasions, the question had to do with prohibition and temperance, issues about which all voters were aware and had definite opinions. This year, Ontario voters go to the polls on October 10, 2007, the first fixed election date in our province's electoral history. By law, elections will now be held provincially every four years during the month of October. When you reach the polling station, you will be given two ballots. On one ballot, you will be asked to vote for your choice for your local MPP. On the other ballot, you will be asked to consider which electoral system Ontario should use to elect members to the provincial legislature in future elections.
One of the two options is known as First-Past-the Post, the present system. Under this option, Ontario will be divided into 107 electoral districts. In each district, each voter gets one vote to choose which candidate they feel should win a seat in the provincial legislature. One vote. One ballot. The candidate with the most votes wins and will be the representative for the electoral district in the provincial legislature. After the election, the political party that wins the most electoral districts is normally asked to form a government.
The other option is known as Mixed Member Proportional, the alternative system. If this system is accepted, Ontarians would have two votes in future elections: one for a 'Local Member' and one for a political party. The provincial legislature would have 129 seats: 'Local Members' would fill 90 seats while 'List Members' would fill 39 seats. The political party with the largest number of seats in the legislature, including 'Local Members' and 'List Members', is asked to form a government.
In each electoral district, one vote would be used to elect a 'Local
Member' using a First-Past-the-Post system. The candidate with the most votes in an electoral district wins. The other vote would be for a political party. Votes for parties will be used to determine the number of 'List Members' each party gets. This is the proportional representation part. If a political party is entitled to more seats than it won locally, 'List Members' are elected to make up the difference. 'List Members' can only be elected from a political party that received more than 3% of these votes. In the end, a political party's overall share of seats will roughly equal its share of the total votes for parties in the province.
If you would like to find more information for yourself, go to
www.YourBigDecision.ca or www.electionsontario.on.ca or you may phone toll-free to 1-888-ONT-VOTE (1-888-668-8683).
Remember to vote October 10 or during the extended advance poll period between September 22nd and October 4th in your electoral district.
--
Daytripping Magazine 1-800-667-0337
Your guide to all the best shops, events & towns in Southern Ontario.
www.daytripping.ca
Hi everyone:
Most people are unaware that there will be a referendum in Ontario on Oct. 10th. When you go to vote, you will also be asked if you want to change the way we elect our leaders. I'm not offering an opinion either way, but wanted to pass on an impartial article that a friend sent to my paper.
Thanks,
Mark Moran
P.S. Anyone is welcome to sponsor me for the Terry Fox Run on Sept. 16th
P.P.S. Jittersauce is playing Dow People Place on Labour Day and the
Pumphouse in Petrolia on September 14 & 15 (Streetdance night).
P.P.P.S. The Scotch Prophets are playing in Petrolia tonight and tomorrow.
AN HISTORIC VOTE IN ONTARIO
sent in by Bob McCarthy, Sarnia (Lambton County historian)
Since Ontario (then known as Lower Canada) first elected a parliament in 1792, we have gone to the polls as a province on only five occasions (1894, 1902, 1919, 1921, 1924) to vote on a Referendum question. On each of these occasions, the question had to do with prohibition and temperance, issues about which all voters were aware and had definite opinions. This year, Ontario voters go to the polls on October 10, 2007, the first fixed election date in our province's electoral history. By law, elections will now be held provincially every four years during the month of October. When you reach the polling station, you will be given two ballots. On one ballot, you will be asked to vote for your choice for your local MPP. On the other ballot, you will be asked to consider which electoral system Ontario should use to elect members to the provincial legislature in future elections.
One of the two options is known as First-Past-the Post, the present system. Under this option, Ontario will be divided into 107 electoral districts. In each district, each voter gets one vote to choose which candidate they feel should win a seat in the provincial legislature. One vote. One ballot. The candidate with the most votes wins and will be the representative for the electoral district in the provincial legislature. After the election, the political party that wins the most electoral districts is normally asked to form a government.
The other option is known as Mixed Member Proportional, the alternative system. If this system is accepted, Ontarians would have two votes in future elections: one for a 'Local Member' and one for a political party. The provincial legislature would have 129 seats: 'Local Members' would fill 90 seats while 'List Members' would fill 39 seats. The political party with the largest number of seats in the legislature, including 'Local Members' and 'List Members', is asked to form a government.
In each electoral district, one vote would be used to elect a 'Local
Member' using a First-Past-the-Post system. The candidate with the most votes in an electoral district wins. The other vote would be for a political party. Votes for parties will be used to determine the number of 'List Members' each party gets. This is the proportional representation part. If a political party is entitled to more seats than it won locally, 'List Members' are elected to make up the difference. 'List Members' can only be elected from a political party that received more than 3% of these votes. In the end, a political party's overall share of seats will roughly equal its share of the total votes for parties in the province.
If you would like to find more information for yourself, go to
www.YourBigDecision.ca or www.electionsontario.on.ca or you may phone toll-free to 1-888-ONT-VOTE (1-888-668-8683).
Remember to vote October 10 or during the extended advance poll period between September 22nd and October 4th in your electoral district.
--
Daytripping Magazine 1-800-667-0337
Your guide to all the best shops, events & towns in Southern Ontario.
www.daytripping.ca