You are correct that, in other areas of the world where the MMP system is used, many parties simple run many of the same candidates at large as those who are running in local elections. However, you may not realize why these countries elect many more women than we do. Left parties tend to put every second candidate on the at-large slate as a woman, while conservative parties may make a woman every third name. Local ridings still tend to nominate “the strongest man” 75% of the time, but when a larger group nominates and ranks the at-large candidates (in New Zealand they do this in six regional conventions, then fold the six lists into one) they tend to nominate a balanced slate. If they run out of locally nominated women they might add a few “list-only” women, but usually that’s not necessary, because only the top half or so of the list have any real chance, and they usually have enough local women candidates for the top half of the list.

We currently have 25% women in the Ontario Legislature, 21% in Ottawa. It’s a national disgrace! FPTP stifles diversity of all sorts. Every country (except Cuba) that has at least 30% women in its national parliament has a proportional voting system.

It’s not about putting a woman ahead of a more qualified man–it’s about removing the barriers to election for qualified women and minorities.

MMP is about changing the strucutre of incentives to generate different behaviour from our politicians and political parties.

Why would you suggest that “the power of the individual will be lost” under MMP? MMP is a voting system designed by voters to be good for voters. It will give voters the power to hold political parties accountable, by giving every voter a party vote that actually helps to elect somebody, every time.

Don’t fall for the hype that list MPPs are not elected, or that MMP will give more power to party bosses.

I would be interested in seeing any historical sources that do claim that the Accord was a coalition because I have seen umpteen sources that state that Ontario has never had one.

–Bob.

I still stand firm in my opinions and feelings with regard to the MMP system. I admitted that the MMP system looks good on paper, but I feel that the reality of Ontario politics will not bear out the affirmative opinions of many individuals.