Referendum 2007

The newspaper that I have been covering is the Hamilton Spectator. Through research I have found that the Hamilton Spectator is very informative in covering the Referendum. Almost every day there is at least one article on a different aspect, or giving an update.

One article that caught my attention was one from September 26. The headline scrawled a frightening message, “Voters to make referendum call out of ignorance.” It was reported that in the Globe and Mail they constructed a Strategic Counsel Poll to discover that 88% of voters have little or no knowledge of the proposed new electoral system. Apparently, one reason for this is that both parties report that they do not have enough financial or organizational resources in order to sufficiently inform the public.

I think that this percentage is disgusting. Voters need to care enough about themselves and the state of their government to take the time to research and know what they are voting for, or against. We have a chance to make a change yet many people will simply let October 10th pass without making an informed decision.

Another article published in the Hamilton Spectator on September 2007 reported on an interview that they had with Ontario NDP candidate Howard Hampton. They reported the interview question and answer style. Personally, I liked the direct and concise manner in which they reported the information. There was no way to confuse what Hampton had said, because it was reported verbatim.

As Election Night grows closer, and I realize that I too will placing my vote in the Referendum I decided to visit the government website, yourbigdecision.ca. The site is very informative, it outlines precisely what the current electoral system is and what the proposed, Mixed Member Proportional system entails. I found that the definition of the current First-Past-the-Post electoral system was very easy to understand. The proposed Mixed Member Proportional system is more complex. The explanation that was given was very precise, but I am worried that many people will be dissuaded by the long explanation of the inner workings of the system and how it came into existence. I hope that when Election night does arrives on October 10th the poles will reflect a informed decision by the Canadian public.