Students Call for New Electoral System

    Canadian Federation of Students Endorses Mixed Member Proportional voting
    system

    TORONTO, Aug. 27 /CNW/ - Delegates representing students' unions from
across the province overwhelmingly voted to support the Mixed Member
Proportional (MMP) electoral system that was recommended by the Ontario
Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform in May. This vote occurred at the
recent Annual General Meeting of Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, that
brought together more than 80 representatives from over 30 students' unions
across the province.
    "It's time to change the system," said Jen Hassum, Chairperson of the
Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "For far too long, our votes on
Election Day have not been properly reflected in the number of seats assigned
to each party by the current, outdated system."
    The growing support among students for changing the voting system to MMP
is based on results that similar systems have yielded in other jurisdictions,
including greater voter choice, fairer election results, and stronger
representation for traditionally under-represented groups.
    "It's no surprise that young Ontarians are less likely to vote with the
current first-past-the-post electoral system in place" said Hassum. "Their
votes are often wasted simply because of the riding where they cast their
vote. If the referendum in October is successful, Ontario's voting system will
finally catch up to most other modern democracies around the world."
    Students plan to aggressively promote the advantages of the proposed new
system in advance of the election and referendum on electoral reform by
supporting Fair Vote Ontario's campaign to change the system.
    Recently, Elections Ontario improved voter identification requirement
that will make voting in the upcoming October 10 referendum more accessible
for students. "Students have a better chance than ever to participate in this
election and change the system for future generations," said Hassum. "October
10 may be the last chance in a long time for Ontarians to fix a broken
electoral system."

For further information: Jen Hassum, Chairperson, (416) 925-3825 or
cell: (416) 832-9073; Joel Duff, Organiser, (416) 925-3825 or cell: (416)
707-0349