The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 28, 2007 - 17 Two views on the referendum question In addition to electing a new government on Oct. 10, Ontario voters will be casting ballots in the province's first ever referendum on electoral reform. The referendum asks voters: Which electoral system should Ontario use to elect members to the provincial legislature -- the existing electoral system or the alternative electoral system proposed by the Citizens' Assembly (Mixed Member Proportional). To encourage interest on this referendum, The Oakville Beaver asked two local residents to comment on the referendum. Christina Agrell, of Oakville Vote for MP and former Oakville NDP candidate in the 2006 federal election, writes why voters should choose the proposed MMP system. Glen Herring, a retired business executive who is active in the community, argues in favour of the existing electoral system. Although Herring is not a member of any provincial political party, he has been active in federal politics, most recently as Oakville Conservative candidate Terence Young's campaign co-chair and comanager. Christina Agrell Vote Mixed Member Proportional We have the chance to make history on more disastrously to the right. In those Oct. 10. We can cast a vote in a years the province made no forward Referendum on Electoral Reform. progress and many Ontarians are still sufEarlier this year, the fering. Yet, neither party had Citizens Assembly on the support of the majority of Electoral Reform, (103 peoOntario voters. ple representing every age, Ontarians tend to be censex, cultural and religious trist-progressive in nature. background you can find in We strongly support social Ontario) recommended a reinvestment and protection Mixed Member Proportional of the environment. But come (MMP) system. This would election time we don't vote allow us to vote as usual for a overwhelmingly for the NDP local MPP and also to have a or the Greens, for fear of splitsecond vote for the party of ting the vote on the left and our choice. In the end, the letting the right win. number of seats held by each Christina Agrell Young people don't use party would reflect its popular vote. their vote because they feel that it makes no In the 1990s, Ontario politics strayed difference. They feel frustrated and alienatall over the map. One party won a majority ed and they won't participate in the cynical government with 38 per cent of the popular dance. vote and marched the province disastrously Under MMP, votes cast by everyone in to the left. Then another party won a major- the electorate will count for something and ity government with 40 per cent of the pop- all voices will be heard. See Vote page 24 ular vote and marched the province even Glen Herring Keep existing electoral system MMP? No thanks! Would you vote for something you don't fully understand? Do you really want less accountability, less stability, and more complexity? Do you want radical change? Think back to June 10. Do you remember where you were? Well, if you were in Belgium, you would have witnessed an election under proportional representation. Eleven (out of 33) parties won seats, based on share of the vote and party candidate lists. Here's the problem ­ as of today, those 11 parties have Glen Herring not been able to form a government. Over three months later! Belgium has replaced Italy and Israel as the poster child for the ills of proportional representation. Now Ontario is conducting a referendum on proportional representation. While we are being offered Mixed Member Proportional Representation, the key words are "proportional representation." It is designed to produce minority governments and coalitions; it always leads to many single-issue splinter parties. That is what we are facing. There are many reasons to reject MMP but I will highlight just three: 1) Accountability. In the proposal, 90 MPPs are elected within traditional ridings and 39 MPPs are appointed from lists prepared by party bosses, based on share of the vote. This means 22 more MPPs than we have today and two different classes of MPP. "Riding MPPs" must face voters in the next election. In fact, they regularly face those voters in the local grocery stores and coffee shops. This provides some restraint and accountability. "List MPPs" are different ­ they are accountable See Why page 26 hanksgiving Happy T WE ARE OPEN THANKSGIVING MONDAY OCTOBER 8TH, 9:00 - 5:00 FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE #1 Grocery Store #1 Butcher Shop Best Source For The Finest Cuts of Quality Meat. Now in for Thanksgiving Fresh Grain Fed Turkeys cooked turkeys · beef tenderloin roast · ducks & geese capons · bone-in cooked hams · cooked glazed hams Bruno's own Cooked Turkeys Diamond Winner Deli-Store with all the trimmings ­ turkey gravy · cranberry sauce · mashed potatoes · stuffings ·turnip THIRD LINE 1395 Abbeywood Drive OAKVILLE 905-825-8357 Use Visa, Mastercard, Bruno's Cheque, AMEX, Cashing Privilege Card or Interac. Visit our Website: www.bruno'sfinefoods.com ABBEYWOOD DR. NORTH SERVICE RD. W OAKVILLE · 905-825-8357 HOURS: MON.-FRI. 8am-7pm, SAT. 8am-7pm, SUN. 8am-6pm THIRD LINE 1395 Abbeywood Drive ABBEYWOOD DR. NORTH SERVICE RD. W