Commission Announces "Proposed Model Will Stay the Same, Though No Dual Candidacy"

The Commission on PEI’s Electoral Future has considered the public comments it has heard to date and will not alter the structure of the proposed Mixed Member Proportional system it released to the public for consideration in late May. The public will have a final opportunity to seek clarification from the Commission at the wrap-up meeting to be held on Tuesday, October 18, 7 to 9 p.m. at Charlottetown Rural High School. This meeting will be the last in a series of 12 public meetings scheduled by the Commission.

“Following consideration of what we had heard at 11 public meetings, as well as information provided to us in other ways, the Commission has concluded that the pillars of the proposed MMP model will remain unchanged,” stated Commission Chair, Leonard Russell. ”Nonetheless, in recognition of the public’s apparent discomfort with the idea of a candidate’s running for office in both a district and on the party list (dual candidacy), as originally proposed by the Commission, we have removed that option from our list of considerations.”

Additionally, the Commission will stress in its final report, that each party should ensure that it’s provincial list of ten candidates reflects the makeup of the population of the province. “Such a commitment on the part of political parties would give clarity to Islanders on the issues to be considered when provincial lists are to be chosen. This would give a level of comfort to Islanders who are concerned about such issues as rural/urban representation and gender balance.”