northern

Ontario is looking at reforming its' electoral system. Or at least looking at whether it needs reforming.

As British Columbia did a couple years ago, Ontario has decided that rather then leaving reform in the hands of politicians, they would convene a citizens' assembly.

Randomly selected people would represent all the voters of the province and try to determine if there's a better way to vote for Members of Provincial Parliament, and if there's a better way to count the ballots.

I heard about this last year when the law was introduced. Of course, I'm a political junkie. I used to be very involved in politics, even running for Public School Trustee in the former City of North York. Yikes, that was back in 1989. I was young and energetic. It was cool having signs with my name spread across entire neighbourhoods. Of course I didn't win. I say of course, because if I had won, I would have used it as a stepping stone to higher and higher office. By my pre-illness schedule, I should be running for the Liberal Party of Canada leadership about now.

Okay, back on topic. A few months ago, Elections Ontario mailed letters to randomly selected people on the voter's list. I got one of the letters. Would I be interested in being my riding's representative on the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform?

Of course! So I filled out the basic information the form required. Mailed it back.

Of the responses they got expressing interest, they would then randomly select about a dozen people per riding to attend a selection meeting.

Yes, I got a phone call saying I was one of those selected to attend the meeting.

The meeting was this afternoon in Sault Ste. Marie. A two-plus hour drive, but they'd reimburse mileage. And considering my riding, Algoma-Manitoulin, is larger than most of the Maritime provinces combined, I had one of the shorter drives.

They gave a presentation on what the Citizens' Assembly would be, and what the members responsibilities would be. In the fall there would be a lengthy series of learning sessions conducted by various professors, lawyers, etc., over the course of three months, held in Toronto. Expenses plus a per diem would be paid. Then, just before Christmas, they'd start holding hearings across the province, where members of the public and special interest groups would present their ideas on electoral reform. Members of the assembly would attend the sessions in their regions. Then in the late winter/early spring of next year, the assembly meets again to hash out ideas and eventually decide first, if there should be changes to the electoral system, and second, if there should be a change, what form will it take. The report would be due to the Legislature by the end of May 2007.

Then the whole thing gets to put to the voters in a referendum.

How cool would that be? Part-time work. Travel. Loads of learning. Playing a real role in determining the future.

Way cool.

At the end of the presentation, those of us still interested in serving, put our names in the hat - well, actually a box. A representative of Elections Ontario then drew a name.

Not mine.

They drew a second name - the alternate member, should the person chosen decide later not to serve.

Yes, my name was selected.

So, I'm now member-in-waiting of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform for the Province of Ontario.

Of course, other than getting my picture taken for the newspaper and getting my name in official press releases, it's a meaningless position unless the guy chosen as the member for my riding changes his mind.

Is it stating the obvious that I hope he changes his mind?

He's got until the start of the learning sessions in early September to change his mind.

I'd keep my fingers crossed except after that length of time, they'd get awfully sore.