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With the holiday season in full swing, it’s the perfect time to think about gifts that truly make a difference — ones that warm the heart and last well beyond the new year.
In 2025, politically speaking, the best gift the people of Simcoe North and all Ontarians could receive is the gift of meaningful voter reform.
Proportional representation (PR) is a present that would keep on giving, creating a fairer and more inclusive democracy where every vote matters. This is not just the wish of a single party; it’s a call to action for leaders and individual candidates across party lines — Liberal, NDP, Conservative and Green — federally and provincially, to join hands and deliver real electoral reform.
Ontario’s current first-past-the-post (FPTP) system feels like receiving a beautifully wrapped box only to find it half-empty.
In 2022, Doug Ford’s PCs won 100 per cent of the power with just over 40 per cent of the vote in an election that saw record-low turnout at 43.53 per cent. That means a little over 17 per cent of Ontarians decided the government for everyone.
The problem is the same on a national level. This system leaves far too many voices unheard, which is no way to celebrate democracy.
It’s no wonder so many Ontarians feel disenfranchised. Knowing your vote is unlikely to influence the outcome can be a huge disincentive to participate at all.
Why unwrap the same gift year after year when it’s not what you asked for? Proportional representation changes this by making every vote count, giving people a reason to show up and make their voices heard.
PR offers the promise of collaboration and accountability, ensuring that Ontario’s diverse communities are represented. By working together, we can design a system that reflects the true will of the people.
A citizens’ assembly on electoral reform would be the perfect way to gather ideas and create a strong, evidence-based path forward.
As Ontario prepares for what could be an early election, now is the time for action. Party platforms are being drafted as we speak, and waiting until the campaign begins to demand reform could be too late.
Let’s wrap up 2024 with a commitment to fairness and make 2025 a year of democratic renewal for all Ontarians.
For everyone in Simcoe North, may we unwrap improvements in democracy in the coming year—an enduring gift that will benefit us all.
Erik Schomann
Simcoe North Electoral District Association CEO, Green Party of Canada
