Why I Support MMP

I'm not going to get into a tit for tat with MMPs detractors, In 48 hours the vote will be over but since Eric posted his reasons for opposing MMP I thought I would mention some points in it's favour.

First of all opponents of MMP will argue that it's undemocratic but it was decided, after the last provincial election that the current electoral system was not terribly democratic so a special committe was put together made up of people from across Ontario, from a wide variety of fields, regions and walks of life. They were tasked to look at numerous alternative systems and come up with something better. MMP is what they finally settled on.

It can hardly be argued that the current system is terribly democratic. For example; Let's say that by some fluke the vote count in every single riding in Ontario was the same: 34% Conservative, 33% Liberal, 33 % NDP (I know it's nearly impossible but bear with me) - under these circumstances the Conservatives would, with 34% of the vote win 100% of the seats, there would be no opposition, the Liberals and NDP could even lose 'official party status'. Under MMP there is no such possibility. The Conservatives would still win every riding, but the Liberals and NDP would each get 1/3 or the 'list' seats - so at least their leaders, their strongest candidates would stay in the provincial parliament.

This unlikely scenario though is not the only problem MMP fixes. The MMP system would mean that, as I said, a party's leaders, it's strongest Candidates would very likely get seats. There would be no more need to move candidates to ridings where they were more likely to win. No more need for elected members to give up their seat so that a party leader could stay in power. It would mean that each party's 'best and brightest' (to the extent that party had any support at all) would remain in the Provincial Parliament and I, for one, think the best and brightest are what we want. This is not some arbitrary list chosen in some smoky back room - this is Ontario's political parties deciding who their most effective, most competent leaders are and putting them on a list. If you follow party politics at all, you will have a pretty good idea who is on the list. Currently, for example, the Liberals list would probably start with 1) Daulton McGuinty, the Tories with 1) John Tory ... etc.,

It also means more voices in the legislature, it means that smaller parties, with support that might be spread out across the province such as the Greens could send their 'best and brightest' to argue their case at Queens Park. It means that majorities, or at least 'strong majorities' are less likely and forces the party in power to compromise with others - rather than perpetuating the current system of 'reward your friends and punish your enemies. The party in power would have to find common ground with other parties and work with them to fashion legislation. The ruling party would have a harder time forcing through unpopular laws just because, as in the case above, they got 34% of the vote - perhaps several years ago.

MMP is certainly not less democratic than the current system. You still get your MPP from your riding, no one is threatening that. If you are torn between say the Liberal and Conservative candidate or the NDP and the Greens there is even a chance that both will be in the provincial parliament.

Perhaps most important it takes away the politics of fear. If you feel like you 'have to vote Liberal' to fend off the Conservatives, even though you really support the Greens you can vote for the Liberal candidate in your riding and for the Green Party both. Giving your support to your local Liberal candidate and to the Green Party list. Parties will no longer be able to scare you into voting for the 'lesser of evils' and that's pretty democratic.

For more info on MMP see this