Publication: Press Release from Elections Ontario
Title: More than 120,000 Ontarians targeted in first mail-out for Citizens' Assembly selection process
Date: April 28, 2006
TORONTO - The province's Chief Election Officer is mailing more than 120,000 letters to Ontarians this week, asking if they'd like to participate in the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform. This mailing marks an important part in the selection process for the 103 members who will form the Assembly.
Under Ontario Regulation 82/06, the Chief Election Officer must choose 52 females and 51 males from the Permanent Register of Electors for Ontario, of which at least one must be a self-identified Aboriginal member.
"It's important that Ontarians know that if they receive one of these letters in the mail they must complete and return the enclosed form to Elections Ontario. Responses must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 12 for individuals to be able to proceed to the next phase in the selection process," said John Hollins, Chief Election Officer.
"By introducing this self-selection step, we have assured the continued confidentiality of information contained in the Permanent Register. Only the names of interested individuals who consent to participate will be entered into the selection process."
From those individuals who respond that they are interested in participating, 11 to 13 electors from each electoral district will be invited to attend a selection meeting. Selection meetings will be held between May 28 and June 24 at one of 16 regional centres across the province.
A representative from the Citizens' Assembly will be invited to attend the selection meetings to give a brief overview of the Assembly's role and to answer any questions that participants may have.
Elections Ontario officials will draw the name of one primary member, as well as two alternates for each electoral district at the selection meetings.
The final list of 103 members and their alternates will be given to the Minister Responsible for Democratic Renewal on or before July 14, after which Elections Ontario's role in the selection process will be complete.
Elections Ontario is the non-partisan agency responsible for administering provincial elections, by-elections and referenda.
For further information: Elections Ontario Media Centre: (416) 212-6186, 1-866-252-2152, [email protected]
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