Green is still 'in'

Sadly, but predictably, MMP was crushed Wednesday night with only 37 per cent of voters lending electoral change their support. Though, as I have noted below, this is just the beginning of a concerted, mature electoral reform movement in Ontario (the Star's Urquhart believes my 'ilk' to be deluded, of course). I seldom agree with Urquhart, but his call for publicly financed parties in Ontario, similar to Chretien's reforms, is refreshing.

Here's hoping McGuinty is shrewd enough to grasp the real story of this election: the seven per cent rise in support for parties (NDP, Green) advocating significant action on environmental issues. The Liberals and Tories -- both seen as being less aggressive on the green file -- lost seven per cent of the popular vote. I think McGuinty will understand this trend and will build on his respectable environmental accomplishments to date (e.g. renewable energy creation, greenbelt, closing some coal plants). If he doesn't move aggressively enough, he will lose my vote. As much as I prefer a shift to proportional politics, I do admit that our system of false, grossly inflated majorities often can be responsive to voters' desires, though, not as responsive as it should be.

A final note on the referendum. It's interesting that Northern Ontario support for the NDP didn't translate into support for MMP, seeing as the NDP has so much to gain (seats) from a proportional system. Northern Ontario voted along the same lines as southern/rural Ontario, tossing MMP aside. For instance, in Hampton's riding of Kenora-Rainy River just 30 per cent backed MMP, seven points less than support province-wide. And in Timmins-James Bay, only 23 per cent. These numbers seem to confirm that the NDP is the Party of the North, not because of its typical leftish/progressive/social policies, but because it defends northern interests (e.g. low electricity prices for resource sector companies).