For the link to the press release, click here.
Attention News Editors:
Citizens Appointed to Re-examine Ontario's Electoral System
Members Of The Citizens' Assembly On Electoral Reform To Participate In Strengthening Ontario's Democracy
TORONTO, Aug. 15 /CNW/ - One hundred and three Ontarians will be at the centre of the most ambitious and far-reaching democratic renewal initiative in Ontario's history, Minister Responsible for Democratic Renewal, Marie Bountrogianni announced today.
"We believe that the shape of Ontario's democracy is a matter for Ontarians to decide," Bountrogianni said. "That's why we're appointing these members of the Citizens' Assembly, and asking them to lend their talents, creativity and commitment to this citizen-led process of re-examining our electoral system and recommending possible changes."
The 52 female and 51 male assembly members, each representing one of Ontario's ridings, were randomly selected from the Permanent Register of Electors for Ontario by Elections Ontario.
The assembly will operate independently of government. If the assembly recommends a change in the electoral system, that recommendation will be put to a referendum within the government's current mandate.
"These 103 people are at the centre of the process, but I'm hoping that all Ontarians will take advantage of the opportunities we are developing for them to express their views to the assembly," said George Thomson, chair of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform.
The first meeting of the Citizens' Assembly will be held on September 9, 2006.
The assembly will issue its final report outlining its recommendation on or before May 15, 2007.
For more information about the Citizens' Assembly and its members, go to the assembly's website at www.citizensassembly.gov.on.ca.
"This is democracy in action - a democracy that belongs to the citizens of Ontario, not just their elected officials," said Bountrogianni.
www.democraticrenewal.gov.on.ca
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