EDITOR:
Last week we were treated to the awful spectacle of Doug Ford, a scandal-plagued former drug dealer with Trumpian tendencies, being elected Premier of Ontario with the total power of a majority government. Can’t see how that could go wrong – at least Ontario will get lots of global headlines.
But did he really win, or just win? He got 76 out of 124 seats, but he only got 41 per cent of the vote. Progressive parties got the other 59 per cent.
If Ontario had Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting, Ford would have exactly as many seats as his vote entitles him – he would have 51 seats to the opposition’s combined 73. He’d still be the premier, but he wouldn’t be unchecked. He couldn’t get away with dismantling the province’s social services, for example.
MMP gives minority voices representation, and acts as a check on unfettered power. For example, under MMP, when the current government is eventually voted out, it won’t be the usual slaughter, they’ll still keep some seats based on their vote share and their voters will still have a voice.
In the next provincial election, Islanders have an opportunity to vote for MMP. Again. The government has tried to set the rules to ensure MMP will lose, but they can’t just ignore a result they don’t like this time. If you’re sick of this nonsense, get out and vote for MMP in spite of the MacLauchlan government’s shenanigans.
Stephen DeGrace,
Charlottetown