MMP 102: What do List Members Do?

[pnijjar]

Perhaps the least understood aspect of MMP in Ontario has to do with the role of the list MPPs. Coming from a FPTP system, we are used to our riding representatives having a distinct, well-defined role: they represent their party in legislature, and represent the interests of their riding at home. In MMP, we add list MPs to this mix. It is pretty

Comments

Re: How will List MPPs work in Ontario?

[anonymous]

Here's my two-cents worth that appeared in the Thursday, Sept. 20 Toronto Sun:

"A 'b-grade' legislature"

The Oct. 10 referendum question on the "Mixed Member Proportional" electoral system is misleading.

On the surface, it sounds more "democratic" than the "first past the post" method. On the contrary, MMP will guarantee that more than 30% of the Ontario Legislature will be "appointed" by party leaders, never elected by constituents.

If you think the Legislature is full of clapping yes men and yes women under rigid, party control, just wait until you see the new variety of B-grade MPPs. They will owe 100% of their allegiances to their party leaders, not constituents.

It will be functionally impossible for the B-grades to represent anything other than the wishes of their head honchos, certainly not Ontario's citizens.

On the bright side, you will never hear b-grades knocking on your door, or interrupting your supper to hand you a flyer. Although they and others will be running your government, they will never be required to seek your approval for anything. More democratic? Balderdash.

J. Michael McCutcheon

Toronto

(Persuasive argument)

Re: How will List MPPs work in Ontario?

[pnijjar]

Sorry, I disagree quite strongly. Did you not read the blog post? Except for the Scottish Greens and in Wales where they outlawed dual-candidacy the list members mostly come from people who also run in ridings. Of course they knock on your door disturbing your dinner -- they canvass and campaign just like everybody else.

As for them being appointed and not elected: give it up. The party leaders appoint party lists for some (but not all) small parties, but the big parties all use democratic nomination processes. It is true that some of the list MPs are of poor quality and that they are widely perceived to be second rate in Scotland, Wales and NZ. It is also true that they are subject to rigid party discipline -- but that means they have to go out and do the best they can to raise that party's profile, becuase if they don't then they lose rank in the lists, and the party loses party vote, which is how these people get elected. (And lots of people do lose their ranking -- turnover on the lists is very high, as the Vowles Banducci Karp paper illustrates.) Are you seriously telling me that these list MPs are not interested in keeping their jobs?

This idea of the party leader's best friends getting all the cushy list positions is by and large nonsense. It's a fairy tale, and I am sick and tired of it. I write articles like this one to demonstrate what is *actually* happening, warts and all.

Stop telling fairy tales. Start looking at reality. The reality is far from pretty, but it is a far better reflection of what actually happens under MMP.