Coalition
for Fair Opposition
NDP Party Status
Coalition
for Fair Opposition
Phone:
416-443-7671
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Fellow Ontarians,
For those of us concerned with democracy in Ontario, election night on October 2nd must have seemed a bittersweet event.
While, it was heartening to see the democratic process function properly it was depressing to see the low voter turnout and devastating to see the NDP drop to seven seats in spite of an increase in their popular support – highlighting the anachronistic nature of our “winner take all” political system.
Over 650,000 voters selected NDP candidates, up by over 100,000 from 1999. Nearly 15 per cent of voters chose the NDP to represent them at Queen’s Park, up from 12 per cent in 1999, yet the NDP lost two seats. And now Dalton McGuinty has said he may not recognize the NDP as a legitimate political party.
We believe this is not acceptable. No one wants to see Ontario move to a US-style two party system. Over the next four years Ontario will face major decisions concerning our air and our environment, funding for health and education, and the future of public assets like hydro. The Liberals have won the right to govern and the Conservatives will come through loud and clear as the Official Opposition, but the over 650,000 citizens who voted NDP deserve a say in these decisions.
We feel the following points must be made:
1. Recognition
Party Recognition merely recognizes reality. The NDP is a legitimate official party in Ontario with a strong federal and provincial presence that historically gets between 15 and 20 per cent of the vote, has formed a majority government from 1990-1995, and the Official Opposition in several Parliaments.
2. Fairness
Over 100,000 more voters backed the NDP in 2003 then in 1999 and the NDP increased its popular vote to 15 per cent in this election from 12 per cent. Despite this, the NDP ended up with two fewer seats. That’s fundamentally unfair to the citizens who voted for NDP candidates across Ontario. It means one in seven voters have unequal representation. They deserve to have a strong voice speaking on their behalf. Individual MPPs can represent their ridings but a strong voice requires the right to ask questions in Question Period, supported by adequate research resources, to effectively represent citizens and their issues at Queen’s Park.
3. The New Government’s First Test
Mr. McGuinty says he is in favour of a more democratic and representative legislature – not just in terms of proportional representation but respecting Opposition MPPs and including them in the process, in stopping the centralization of power in the Premier’s Office. Here is his chance to make good on that promise. Refusing to recognize the NDP will mean he’s not really serious about strengthened democracy in Ontario. It will mean he’s shutting out the voice of 15 per cent of Ontarians who voted for the NDP.
We are working to send a strong message to the new government. We hope you will join us in your capacity as community activists. Write letters to the Editor of your local paper, letters to Premier Dalton McGuinty and letters to local Liberal MPPs – please keep us informed of what you’re doing and send us copies of correspondence. Also, we are collecting any and all contact information for Liberal MPPs. If you know of a way to reach your MPP please share that information with us.
Further information is enclosed. Please don’t hesitate to act. They have already shown a willingness to listen. We need to ensure that these points are heard.
Please call or email our growing number of volunteers if you have any questions or would like to help.
Thanking you in advance,
Steve Shallhorn
Coalition for Fair
Opposition
Background Notes
- The NDP increased
its popular vote to 15 per cent in this election from 12 per cent in
1999, yet ended up with two fewer seats. That’s fundamentally unfair
to the citizens who voted for NDP candidates across Ontario. It means
one in seven voters have unequal representation.
- Numbers of seats
required for official party status are arbitrary, and vary from province
to province and in the federal House of Commons. The number of seats
required in BC is 4, in Alberta and Saskatchewan it’s 2. Federally
it’s 12 out of 301, or 4% of the seats.
- Individual MPPs
can represent their ridings but a strong voice requires the right to
ask questions in Question Period, supported by adequate research resources,
to effectively represent citizens and their issues at Queen’s Park.
- Mr. McGuinty says
he is in favour of a more democratic and representative legislature.
He ran on the slogan “choose change” and made specific statements
about democracy: “We will make the political process in Ontario
more inclusive … The rules of the Ontario Legislature should help
your elected MPPs represent you, not make it easier for the Premier
and his unelected advisors and spin-doctors to shut you out … We
will bring a team approach to governing. We will respect and draw on
the talents and expertise of every elected representative, including
opposition members.” Now he’s saying, “the rules are
the rules – there will be no change”.
- The NDP is a legitimate
official party in Ontario with a strong federal and provincial presence
that historically gets between 15 and 20 per cent of the vote, including
forming a majority government in 1990-95.
- This is the first test of Mr. McGuinty and his government. Refusing to recognize the NDP will mean McGuinty’s not really serious about strengthening democracy in Ontario. It will mean he’s effectively shutting out the voice of 15 per cent of Ontarians who voted for the NDP.
Questions and Answers
Why should the NDP have “party status”?
- The current standard
for “party status” is arbitrary and reflects the bias of the
first past the post system.
- Over 600,000 Ontarians voted NDP – surely they deserve to have a meaningful voice in the Parliamentary process.
What’s wrong with the current voting system?
- The first-past-the-post
system is deeply flawed and everyone knows it – including Dalton
McGuinty.
- Since 1945 Ontario
has held 18 provincial elections, electing over 1500 Members of Provincial
Parliament. In those 18 elections, 16 majority governments were elected
of which only 2 received 50% or more of the voters'
ballots.
- In other words,
89% of the governments in post, World War II Ontario have enacted laws
and governed our province with less than 50% of the voting population's
support.
- Canada and Ontario
are two of the few remaining democracies in the world that do not currently
utilize some form of Proportional Representation in electing their legislators.
- Liberal MPP Michael Liberal MPP Michael Bryant put it best during the campaign when he told the Toronto Town Crier: “"The problem is one of disproportionality, and it’s compounded by the political trend of centralizing a government’s decision-making power with the premier…I’m not for throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but we cannot let the disproportionate electoral results continue to erode public confidence, and turn young people off of politics.”
What are the standards for “party status” in other jurisdictions?
- The Federal House of Commons requires a party to hold 12 of 301 seats (or 4% of seats) for status. In British Columbia the number of required seats is 4 (or 5% of seats) In Alberta and Saskatchewan it’s 2. (3% and 2% respectively)
- The NDP received nearly half as many votes as the Conservatives (656,094 for the NDP versus 1,552,886 for the PCs) but less than a third as many seats. The NDP received nearly a third as many votes as the Liberals (656,094 for the NDP versus 2,025,081for the Liberals) but less than a tenth as many seats.
How much funding should the NDP receive?
- We’re not taking a position on “how much”. We believe that the NDP has to play a meaningful role in the coming Parliament and that resources are a part of that.
Isn’t this all about perks for the NDP – like a driver for Howard Hampton?
- No. Proper funding
is about giving MPPs the ability to participate in debates, to raise
questions in Question Period, and to employ staff who can research issues
and legislation, and promote an alternative point of
view.
- Liberals and Conservatives
claim party funding already and neither party would define what they
receive as “perks” – just the resources necessary to
make the system work fairly.
- People who don’t
want to see an effective NDP opposition are spreading outright lies
about the “perks” of party status. For example, Howard Hampton
does not have a driver. The NDP caucus voted against MPP pay
increases. It’s pretty clear that if the NDP caucus were just out for “perks” they’d have cashed in long ago.
Would you be doing this for the Tories if they only elected 7 MPPs?
- Some of us have fought very hard against Tory policies but this is an issue of fairness. Any party that receives 15 per cent of the vote deserves a voice in the system. They can’t simply be cut out – whether they’re Tory, Liberal, or the NDP.
What about the Greens or the Freedom Party? Should they get status?
- Growing numbers of people are calling for proportional representation or variations on that system. Parties like the Greens are clearly disadvantaged under the current system. But what’s very clear to us is that too many Ontarians voted for the NDP to be denied a meaningful role in Parliament.
The rules were set going into the election – why should we change them now just because the NDP didn’t make the grade?
- The rules for party status are arbitrary but more importantly, there are clear flaws in our political process. Dalton McGuinty and other Liberals have acknowledged that and it’s time for a change. When 600,000 people endorse a party it is undemocratic to cut them out of the system.
Dalton McGuinty has promised the NDP time in Question Period. Isn’t that enough?
- The Speaker already has the power to grant the NDP MPPs questions during Question Period. The real issue is meaningful participation – which includes regular participation in Question Period, participation in debates on legislation, including in committee and the funding that will allow the NDP caucus to properly research issues, legislation and promote differing views.
Are you worried that the Liberals will be too right wing without the NDP?
- It’s not an issue of “right” or “left”. No one wants a U.S. style two-party system. The Conservatives have shown themselves to be a clearly right-wing party. We need all political positions to be heard in the legislature. All voices need to be heard.
LIST
OF LIBERAL MPPs
OCTOBER 9, 2003
Algoma Manitoulin,
Mike Brown, 705-461-9710 (p), 705-461-9720 (f),
mike_brown-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Ancaster Dundas Flamborough
Aldershot, Ted McMeekin, 905-690-6552 (p), 905-690-6562 (f),
ted_mcmeekin-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Bramalea Gore Malton
Springdale, Kuldip Kular, 905-799-3939 (p), 905-799-9505 (f),
info@drkuldipkular.com
Brampton Centre, Linda
Jeffrey, 905-840-9244 (p), 904-840-7845 (f),
linda_jeffrey@ontarioliberal.com
Brampton West Mississauga,
Vic Dhillon, 905-796-8669 (p), 905-796-8069 (f),
vicdhillon@rogers.com
Brant, Dave Levac,
519-759-0361 (p), 519-759-6439 (f),
dave_levac-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Chatham Kent Essex,
Pat Hoy, 519-351-0510 (p), 519-351-7714 (f),
pat_hoy-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Davenport, Tony Ruprecht,
416-535-3158 (p), 416-325-9961 (f),
tony_ruprecht-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Don Valley East, David
Caplan, 416-494-6856 (p), 416-494-9937 (f),
david_caplan-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Don Valley West, Kathleen
Wynne, 416-445-4040 (p), 416-445-7031 (f),
kathleen_wynne@ontarioliberal.com
Eglington Lawrence,
Mike Colle, 416-781-2395 (p), 416-781-4116 (f),
mike_colle-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Elgin Middlesex London,
Steve Peters, 519-631-0666 (p), 519-631-9478,
steve_peters-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Essex, Bruce Crozier,
519-766-6420 (p), 519-776-5783 (f),
bruce_crozier-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Etobicoke Centre,
Donna Cansfield, 416-695-1220 (p), 416-695-1222 (f),
donna_cansfield@ontarioliberal.com
Etobicoke Lakeshore,
Laurel Broten, 416-259-2249 (p), 416-259-3704 (f),
laurel_broten@ontarioliberal.com
Etobicoke North, Shafiq
Qaadri,
drsqaadri@bellnet.ca
Glengarry Prescott
Russell, Jean-Marc Lalonde, 613-446-4010 (p), 613-446-6605 (f),
jean-marc_lalonde-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Guelph Wellington,
Liz Sandals, 519-836-4190 (p), 519-836-4191 (f),
liz_sandals@ontarioliberal.com
Hamilton East, Dominic
Agostino, 905-544-9644 (h), 905-544-5152 (f),
dominic_agostino-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Hamilton Mountain,
Marie Bountrogianni, 905-388-9734 (h), 905-388-7682,
marie_bountrogianni-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Hamilton West, Judy
Marsales, 905-529-1277 (h), 905-529-1280 (f),
judy_marsales@ontarioliberal.com
Hastings Frontenac
Lennox and Addington, 613-354-6630 (p), 613-354-0232,
leona_dombrowsky-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Huron Bruce, Carol
Mitchell, 519-524-2979 (h), 519-524-4154 (f),
carol_mitchell@ontarioliberal.com
Kingston and the Islands,
John Gerretsen, 613-547-2385 (h), 613-547-5001 (f),
john_gerretsen-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Kitchener Centre,
John Milloy, 519-579-5460 (p), 519-579-2121 (f),
info@johnmilloy.com
Lambton Kent Middlesex, Maria Van Bommel, 519-822-0221 (p), 519-882-3939 (f), maria_vanbommel@ontarioliberal.com
London Fanshawe, Khalil
Ramal, 519-668-1104 (p), 519-668-1941 (f),
khalil_ramal@ontarioliberal.com
London North Centre,
Deb Matthews, 519-432-7339 (p), 519-432-0613 (f),
deb_matthews@ontarioliberal.com
London West, Chris
Bentley, 519-657-3120 (p), 519-657-0368 (f),
chris_bentley@ontarioliberal.com
Markham, Tony Wong,
905-305-1935 (p), 905-305-1938 (f),
tony_wong@ontarioliberal.com
Mississauga Centre,
Harinder Takhar, 905-897-8815 (p), 905-897-8482 (f),
harinder_takhar@ontarioliberal.com
Mississauga East,
Peter Fonseca, 905-238-1751 (p), 905-238-4918 (f),
peter_fonseca@ontarioliberal.com
Mississauga South,
Tim Perterson, 905-278-1557 (p), 905-278-1525 (f),
tim_peterson@ontarioliberal.com
Mississauga West,
Bob Delaney, 905-826-7200 (p), 905-826-4553 (f),
BobDelaney@mississaugawest.com
Niagara Falls, Kim
Craitor, 905-357-0681 (p), 905-357-9456 (f),
kim_craitor@ontarioliberal.com
Nippissing, Monique
Smith, 705-474-8340 (p), 905-474-9747 (f),
monique_smith@ontarioliberal.com
Northumberland, Lou
Rinaldi, 905-372-4000 (p), 905-372-1672 (f),
lou_rinaldi@ontarioliberal.com
Oakville, Kevin Flynn,
905-827-5141 (p), 905-827-3786 (f),
kevin_flynn@ontarioliberal.com
Ottawa Centre, Richard
Patten, 613-722-6414 (p), 613-722-6703 (f),
richard_patten-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Ottawa Orleans, Philip
McNeely, 613-834-8679 (p), 613-834-7647 (f),
phil_mcneely@ontarioliberal.com
Ottawa South, Dalton
McGuinty, 613-736-9573 (p), 613-736-7374 (f),
dalton_mcguinty-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Ottawa Vanier, Madeline
Meilleur, 613-744-4484 (p), 613-744-0889 (f),
madeline_meilleur@ontarioliberal.com
Ottawa West Nepean,
Jim Watson, 613-727-2657 (p), 613-224-3306 (f),
jim_watson@ontarioliberal.com
Parkdale High Park,
Gerard Kennedy, 416-763-5630 (p), 416-763-5640 (f),
gerard_kennedy-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Perth Middlesex, John
Wilkinson, 519-272-0660 (p), 519-272-1064 (f),
john_wilkinson@ontarioliberal.com
Peterborough, Jeff
Leal, 705-742-3777 (p), 705-742-1822 (f),
jeff_leal@ontarioliberal.com
Pickering Ajax Uxbridge,
Wayne Arthurs, 905-420-0829 (p), 905-420-5351 (f),
wayne_arthurs@ontarioliberal.com
Prince Edward Hastings,
Ernie Parsons, 613-962-1144 (p), 613-969-6381 (f),
ernie_parsons-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Sarnia Lambton, Caroline
DiCocco, 519-337-0051 (p), 519-337-3246 (f),
caroline_dicocco-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Sault Ste Marie, David
Orazeitti, 705-949-6959 (p), 705-949-5561 (f),
david_orazeitti@ontarioliberal.com
Scarborough Agincourt,
Gerry Phillips, 416-297-6568 (p), 416-297-4962 (f),
gerry_phillips-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Scarborough Centre,
Brad Duguid, 416-615-2183 (p), 416-615-2011 (f),
brad_duguid@ontarioliberal.com
Scarborough East,
Mary Anne Chambers, 416-281-2787 (p), 416-281-2360 (f),
maryanne_chambers@ontarioliberal.com
Scarborough Rouge
River, Alvin Curling, 416-297-5040 (p), 416-297-6767 (f),
alvin_curling-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Scarborugh Southwest, Lorenzo Berardinetti, 416-261-9525 (p), 416-261-0381 (f), lorenzo_berardinetti@ontarioliberal.com
St. Catharines, Jim
Bradley, 905-935-0018 (p), 905-935-0191 (f),
jim_bradley-mpp@ontla.ola.org
St. Paul’s, Michael
Bryant, 416-656-0943 (p), 416-656-0875 (f),
michael_bryant-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Stoney Creek, Jennifer
Mossop, 905-664-4200 (p), 905-935-0191 (f),
jennifer.mossop@bellnet.ca
Stormont Dundas Charlottenburgh,
Jim Brownell, 613-933-6513 (p), 905-933-6449 (f),
jim_brownell@ontarioliberal.com
Sudbury, Rick Bartolucci,
705-675-1914 (p), 705-675-1456 (f),
rick_bartolucci-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Thornhill, Mario Racco,
905-731-8462 (p), 905-731-2984 (f),
mario_racco@ontarioliberal.com
Thunder Bay Atikokan,
Bill Mauro, 807-623-9237 (p), 807-623-4983 (f),
bill_mauro@ontarioliberal.com
Thunder Bay Superior
North, Mike Gravelle, 807-345-3647 (p), 807-345-2922 (f),
michael_gravelle-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Timiskaming Cochrane,
David Ramsey, 705-567-4650 (p), 705-567-4208 (f),
david_ramsay-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Toronto Centre Rosedale,
George Smitherman, 416-972-7683 (p), 416-972-7686 (f),
george_smitherman-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Vaughan King Aurora,
Greg Sobara, 905-851-0440 (p), 905-851-0210 (f),
greg_sorbara-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Willowdale, David
Zimmer, 416-733-7878 (p), 416-733-7709 (f),
david_zimmer@ontarioliberal.com
Windsor St. Clair,
Dwight Duncan, 519-251-5199 (p), 519-251-5299 (f),
dwight_duncan-mpp@ontla.ola.org
Windsor West, Sandra
Pupatello, 519-977-7191 (p), 519-977-7029 (f),
sandra_pupatello-mpp@ontla.ola.org
York Centre, Monte
Kwinter, 416-630-0080 (p), 416-630-8828 (f),
monte_kwinter-mpp@ontla.ola.org
York South Weston,
Joe Cordiano, 416-243-7964 (p), 416-243-0327 (f),
joe_cordiano-mpp@ontla.ola.org
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Page last updated October 24, 2003