We are heading to the polls for a provincial election in about a month, and there is a referendum on election reform riding on the ballot. So what is this newfangled idea they’re trying to push on us?
Let’s start with how things are right now:
We all vote for our local representative who goes to parliament and represents our interests. Each representative is affiliated with a political party, the party with the most representatives elected runs the government.
And now for the new way (mixed member proportional):
We all vote for our local representative, plus the party who we want to form the government. Like before, my local guy gets a seat at the table but then the powers that be take a look at what party I voted for and do some shuffling to make sure that the party with the most “party” votes gets control of the government. They add in random non-locally-elected party representatives to make up the difference.
And finally, what I think might work:
So this whole “the Queen of England is the head of state and has veto power” thing just seems a little silly. If we could elect a real head of state at both the federal and provincial levels then I think we would be fine. I would vote for my local representative, as well as the premier/governor/whatever who is in charge and wields the big veto stamp. Check, balance, and mate.
And to be clear, I think MMP is a stupid idea.
You haven’t followed what MMP does. You would prefer to”vote for my local representative, as well as the premier.” That’s exactly how MMP works, since voting for the party you want to see in power means voting for its leader to be premier.
Under MMP you think “the party with the most “party” votes gets control of the government.” No. The control will be proportional to the votes. No longer will a party get 40% of the votes, 60% of the seats, and 100% of the power, just because it got the most votes.
You say under MMP “They add in random non-locally-elected party representatives to make up the difference.” Nothing random about it. While today parties nominate candidates one at a time — usually choosing the proverbial while male professional with 2.5 children — that will be true for only 70% of the MPPs. Parties will nominate the other 30% at large — likely in regional nominations, folded into a province-wide ranked list — and voters for a party that doesn’t elect its full share of local MPPs will elect a few from the top of that list to make up the difference.