Freedom Flyer June 1998 Cover

Freedom Flyer 33

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

June 1998




HARRIS CONSIDERING PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION?

TORONTO (September 10, 1997) - In response to Fp leader Lloyd Walker's June 5 personal letter advocating the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) as a means of establishing proportional representation in Ontario, Ontario Premier Michael Harris wrote back to inform him that "I've taken the liberty of sharing your letter with (Parliamentary Assistant) Tony Clement and I know he will find your comments informative and useful."

It may be premature to suggest that some form of proportional representation is supported by Ontario's PCs as a matter of principle. What may interest them about the concept could be nothing more complicated than simple self-preservation.

"As I write this," Walker warned Harris, "I hear the news informing me of Reform telling your government to 'tow the line' or face Reform candidates in the next election. The STV may be the only thing that will protect you and your MPPs from this type of blackmail. It would also protect Ontarians from a party that would happily split the vote and give Ontario a Liberal or NDP government just to 'keep you in line.'"

Walker asked the premier whether or not his government would be making any electoral reforms in the near future.

"In general," responded Harris, "our chief electoral reform to date has been the passage of the Fewer Politicians Act, which will change the number of seats in the Legislature from 130 to 103, as we promised in The Common Sense Revolution. We are also contemplating some other democratic reforms. As you may know, last year I issued a discussion paper entitled Your Ontario, Your Choice. This paper asked Ontarians for their input on the matters of citizen initiative, referenda and recall."

Of course, Walker was already aware of the government's discussion paper, since both he and Fp president Robert Metz addressed the legislature on this issue on September 11, 1996. (See Freedom Flyer #30.) Walker also officially criticized the final recommendations of that discussion paper, calling the referenda report "disappointing". (See Freedom Flyer #32.)

Nevertheless, the fact that the Harris government is "contemplating some other democratic reforms," combined with its interest in Walker's advocacy of the STV, could be an indication of movement in a positive direction.

"I hope that your government will move to the STV prior to the next election," Walker encouraged the premier. "In that way, every candidate elected will have the support of a representative majority in their riding and we can forever put to rest the concept of splitting the vote."




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