Jim Harris : What MMP Means to Conservatives in Toronto

On his blog at Vote for MMP, former Green Party of Canada leader, Jim Harris, describes what MMP would mean to Toronto-area conservatives after listening to Senator Hugh Segal's speech.

From my own perspective, as a former Progressive Conservative, it's important to point out that 225,000 Progressive Conservative voters in Toronto did not elect a single MPP in the last provincial election. Similarly more than 400,000 Conservative voters in Toronto did not elect a single MP in the 2006 federal election. So the largest city in the province and country goes unrepresented in the Conservative caucuses federally and provincially.

This is deeply troubling -- because the first past the post system (our current system) creates deep regional divisions -- polarizing the province and the country. This in turn twists public policy formation.

With the MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) system Toronto would be represented at Queen's Park -- as the PC party would would likely elect high on their list the most popular PCs from Toronto such as David Crombie -- the former tiny perfect mayor of Toronto.

Toronto needs to send a conservative voice to Queen's Park.