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TV Ontario
Duration:
3 minutes and 46 seconds
Country:
Canada
Language:
English
License:
dotSUB Participatory-Commercial
Genre:
Public Service Announcement
Producer:
TV Ontario
Views:
159
Posted by:
thor on Sep 6, 2006
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Video Transcription
- We are to evaluate the present electoral system
- and we're to look at other electoral systems, and we're to
- make a recommendation on whether Ontario should keep its present system
- or adopt another. And we are to present a report by May 15th, 2007 as you know.
- And let me do one other thing, let me recommend an important guiding principal,
- that I think about when I think about how I can perform my role.
- and I am going to do it by using the words of a famous ex ballplayer named Yogi Berra
- who said one day
- that this is going to be a really important principal, that it isn't over until it is over.
- And by that I mean it will be really important I think that we don't take positions too early
- that we avoid fixed positions we always through this whole exercise we remain open
- to new ideas that we are going to hear all the way through.
- This is going to be a gradual learning process so it will be important for us to be open to continuing to learn.
- That we learn and listen before deciding. And the way I think we can reflect that is
- that point we had on our rules of procedure, no decision is a final decision
- unless we decide it's a final decision.
- and those final decisions I am assuming are going to be near the end of the deliberative phase.
- So any decisions we make between now and then we can always revisit.
- So if we know that when we see a consensus on something we know we can come back to it
- if what we learn later requires us to do so. I think that will be important and
- will avoid feeling that we are getting locked in or taking fixed positions too early.
- So if you can keep firmly in your mind that principal that it isn't over til it's over,
- I think that will be really important.
- Just a little bit about the importance of the Assembly's work.
- Jonathon is going to talk to you about why electoral systems are important,
- and we're going to do a little thing tomorrow that will help to demonstrate that.
- The two points I like to make about that the more I think about it
- is one that is an obvious point, but we inherited an electoral system,
- and we used it for the first time I now know in 1841, and we were Canada West at the time, not Ontario.
- But it's never been examined since we took it on.
- We have never examined that system since it was first used in the 1840's.
- So that in itself would suggest to one that a fundamental part of our democratic process
- which has never been examined, ought to be looked at.
- Secondly, and I think this is also very important, we're a very different Ontario
- that existed in 1841 when we inherited this system. And I've already demonstrated that
- by describing you for example. But it's true that the Ontario that exists today is a very different one.
- And so when I think of why this is an important exercise, I say to myself
- it is an appropriate time to determine whether the present system or some other system
- is relevant to the values of Ontarians in 2006.
- And that's what this is about. And for that alone, I think this is a really important exercise.
- It's also important and I said this at the beginning, because it's this new model
- of engaging citizens. And some people talk about this as a means of engaging citizens
- that could be part of reconnecting voters to our democracy,
- getting at what's called the democratic deficit. It may or may not be, but
- it is really a unique process and its involves trusting ordinary citizens,
- I'd use the word extraordinary, but ordinary citizens' ability to decide
- difficult but basic elements, really difficult but basic elements of our democratic process.
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