Good news from the Lord!

New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord plans on holding a referendum on electoral reform in early 2008. The referendum is in response to a report by the New Brunswick Commission on Legislative Democracy, established by Lord in December '03. The commission recommended a mixed-member system which would include 36 representatives elected under first-past-the-post (the current system) supplemented by 20 representatives elected regionally to ensure that each political party's share of seats in the legislature accurately reflects their share of the popular vote.

Lord will also follow up on other recommendations of the commission, including fixed election dates and limitations on political contributions.

In March, Premier McGuinty announced the formation of a citizens' assembly to study Ontario's voting system, to report in early 2007. A proportional system received 58 per cent support in a British Columbia referendum in 2005; however, this fell short of the 60 per cent threshold established by Premier Campbell. B.C. will hold another referendum in 2009.

The movement to ensure every vote counts rolls on.