[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/O’Brien_Robert.jpg” caption=”Robert O’Brien, chair of the Department of Political Science. File photo.”]The Department of Political Science will hold a public forum to bring together key figures in the debate on electoral reform on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

The discussion will include leading Ontario academics, advocates for the “yes” and “no” sides of the referendum, members of the Citizen's Assembly that developed the proposal and the Minister responsible for the initiative, Marie Bountrogianni.

“Elections are a critical element in representative democracy,” explains Robert O'Brien, chair of the Department of Political Science. “We see it as part of our role to facilitate public debate on this issue, so we are pleased to host the Minister, distinguished experts and representatives from both sides of the debate. We look forward to an open and informative discussion.”

The forum will outline the two options facing voters: our current first-past-the-post system and the system proposed under the referendum reform, known as Mixed Member Proportional or MMP.

Not only is the referendum unprecedented, but the reform proposal itself is the result of a unique process known as the Citizen's Assembly. The Assembly brought together ordinary citizens from across the province to debate the best ways to improve political representation in Ontario, and the referendum proposal reflects their work on this question.

Other speakers will include the Minister for Democratic Renewal, Marie Bountrogianni (Hamilton Mountain), political scientists Karen Bird (an expert on women's representation) and David Docherty (an expert on Ontario politics and legislative behaviour), as well as representatives of both the “yes” and “no” sides of the campaign.

“This could be an important step forward in the representation of minorities and women in Ontario, but we need to make sure people understand the process and feel comfortable with the changes,” says Bird.

The forum will be held Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Gilmour Hall, Room 111 (Council Chambers).