Ontario's experiment in electoral reform received a rather strenuous thumbs down on election night.
The proposed Mixed Member Proportional System was declined by Ontario's voters, as 63% of those voting chose NO, while only 37 % voted in the affirmative during Wednesday's referendum on change.
The measure required a double positive to pass, 60% of the vote and majority approval in at least 64 ridings, a standard which the plan never came close to achieving.
The proposal to change the first past the post system in Ontario was described on the Globe and Mail website as an ‘unmitigated disaster', as a fog of confusion and apathy seemed to envelop the first attempt at election reform in Ontario.
A poor education program was blamed for the less than enthusiastic interest in the proposed changes as voters chose instead to focus on the race in its more traditional first place takes all process.
Ontario joins BC and PEI in rejecting electoral change, although BC residents will get another crack at changing the electoral dynamics in the next BC election expected in 2009.
In Ontario however, the decision has been made. There will be no rewards for second best.
If you can't make it past the post, you're bid for electoral success is now toast!
The proposed Mixed Member Proportional System was declined by Ontario's voters, as 63% of those voting chose NO, while only 37 % voted in the affirmative during Wednesday's referendum on change.
The measure required a double positive to pass, 60% of the vote and majority approval in at least 64 ridings, a standard which the plan never came close to achieving.
The proposal to change the first past the post system in Ontario was described on the Globe and Mail website as an ‘unmitigated disaster', as a fog of confusion and apathy seemed to envelop the first attempt at election reform in Ontario.
A poor education program was blamed for the less than enthusiastic interest in the proposed changes as voters chose instead to focus on the race in its more traditional first place takes all process.
Despite fancy websites , blogs and numerous forums on the issue, in the end Ontario chose to stay with the familiar and traditional, complete with its potential to deliver overwhelming majority governments like the one elected on Wednesday, which all but shuts out the Opposition parties.
Ontario joins BC and PEI in rejecting electoral change, although BC residents will get another crack at changing the electoral dynamics in the next BC election expected in 2009.
In Ontario however, the decision has been made. There will be no rewards for second best.
If you can't make it past the post, you're bid for electoral success is now toast!
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