Publication: The Guardian (Prince Edward Island)
Title: Citizens assembly on Island is required to restart electoral reform, say advocates
Date: May 1, 2006
By: Caitlin McIntyre
For the article, click here.
If the electoral reform process is renewed on P.E.I. a citizens assembly should be developed, those at a public forum said Saturday.
This was the consensus reached by 30 people gathered at St. Peter’s Anglican Church hall in Charlottetown for a electoral reform forum.
They said a randomly selected citizens assembly based on models in British Columbia and Ontario would create a more democratic vote on electoral change if the issue is reintroduced on P.E.I.
In a citizens assembly, the randomly selected individuals would discuss electoral reform and propose a new electoral system that would be presented to the public for a vote.
“I think if you have a citizens assembly it’s going to be a lot harder for (Island politicians) to run the sort of campaign they did last time,” said Mark Greenan, a member of the yes coalition during last year’s electoral reform debate.
“It was an elitist process before, but hopefully a better designed process involving average citizens will get us a fair voting system on P.E.I.”
Gordon Cobb, a member of the No to MMP Coalition, said the goal of Saturday’s forum was to brainstorm ideas for kickstarting a new electoral reform process on the Island.
He said a citizens assembly, which would need the support of the legislative assembly to materialize, would likely get more Islanders interested in the debate.
“With a citizens assembly, it would be the first time we’d have a diverse, broad group looking at the problem,” Cobb said. “Then at least there’s a greater sense that the final product that comes out will be a bit more acceptable and possibly generate more excitement from the general public.”
Saturday’s forum included representatives from both sides of the issue.
Greenan and Justice Norman Carruthers, both supporters of electoral reform, were guest speakers along with former MLA Pat Mella, an opponent of reform.
Ed MacDonald, a history professor at UPEI, offered a historical perspective on the election issue.
But both sides agreed that a citizens assembly would be an ideal means of possibly settling the issue.
“It gives an opportunity for a lot more debate and public exposure,” Mella said.
However, she said those expecting these changes to occur sooner rather then later may be disappointed.
“There’s always people who think they want to change everything by tomorrow, and that’s not going to happen.”
Meanwhile, Greenan said he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the future of electoral reform on P.E.I. While he believes the debate will eventually be re-opened, he’s unsure how Islanders will react.
“It’s going to be difficult,” he said. “There’s some conservativism in Islanders and they’re not necessarily the people most likely to embrace change. You’re going to face a bigger resistance to change than you might in other jurisdictions.”
But MacDonald said any research into Island history proves Islanders actually tend to embrace change.
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