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Huron Expositor, 2007-09-12, Page 5Opinion The Huron Expositor • September 12, 2007 Page 5 Mixed Member Proportional electoral system should make every vote count From Page 4 The FPTP system dictates that regardless of how many people across the province directly or indirectly state that a specific party represents them, all that matters is how many seats a party wins. That bears repeating. In selecting a government in Canada, when you get right down to it, it's the number of seats that matters and not the number of votes. What that means is that even if the Green Party were to receive support - in the form of actual votes on actual ballots - from 30 per cent of the people in the province, if more people in each riding vote for other candidates, there wouldn't be a single Green Party MPP in Ontario. Not only is that bizarre, it turns an election into a crap shoot. On Oct. 10, Ontarians will be asked whether they'd like to keep the FPTP system or move to something called Mixed Member Proportional (MMP). Under MMP, voters would get two votes, one fore��o�wea�a��e��s mentioned,e�;,. we each of the statements earlier. We would get a vote for the candidate we want to represent our riding and a vote for the party we want to support. We would have 90 ridings - and seats - in the province instead of the 107 we have now. There would be an additional 39 seats for "list mem- bers" and these seats would be filled from the various parties based on the number of votes each party received. Each.party would then be represented by a mix of members voted in to represent ridings and members picked from a list of candidates sup- plied by the party. The party with the most seats would form the government. Critics say this is less democratic because the "list members" are picked by the party and not by voters. I say that there's no real difference between that and parachuting in a candidate of a specific party to a riding that party always wins. Additionally, this would make Parliament a mix of MPPs who are there to represent specific regions of the province and MPPs who are there represent111111111111111111) the interests of Ontarians in gener- al. Ontarians gener- al. Right now, regional interests seem to trump general interests. MMP may not be a perfect system, but voting is about picking the best option available. I'd like my honest vote to count for once. Smoking tramps presumed cause of fire that destroys Seaforth barn in 1882 September 1882 The assessed value of village property in Brussels is nearly $16,000 less than last year. Last year the amount was $335,800. This year it is $320,075. A new bridge is to be erected over the Maitland River at Blyth. Operations commenced with the laying of stone abutments. Being built by the county, the structure will cost $1,800. A barn on the farm of Thomas Govenlock, on the gravel road, three miles north of Seaforth, was completely destroyed by fire. Over 100 tons of hay was also lost. It is presumed tramps had taken lodg- ing in the barn, and while smoking, set fire to the hay. the barn was not insured. The rate of assessment in Seaforth Woolen Mills is making a large exhibit of his wares at the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. Thus far, he has been awarded four silver medals. September 18, 1907 The Messrs. Storey and Van Egmond, architects of Regina, have been selected as one of seven firms of architects for the New Provincial executive and administrative build- ings at Regina. Cost is about $1,250,000. Mr. Van Egmond is a son of Mr. W.D.. Van Egmond, for- merly of Seaforth. Robert Willis has purchased the store on Seaforth main street owned and occupied by W. Talbot. The price paid was $2,500. R.J. Dunsmore, an old Tuckersmith boy, replied to recent letters in the Expositor, written by Robert Govenlock. He said Mr. Govenlock gave him the first 10 cents he ever earned. The mone- tary event was received for picking carrots for one day. Seaforth poultry winners at the Industrial Fair in Toronto were P. Dill who won a silver cup and bronze medal. Miss Bona Case won a silver cup for best pair. Alexander McKenzie of Kippen travelled to Blyth looking up rye straw for his collar making busi- ness. (Note: presumably horse col- lars). September 2, 1932 The Seaforth Business Men's Association have circulated a peti- tion, asking town council to provide better street lighting on Main Street. It was suggested that large lights be installed at each intersec- tion. A peculiar thing happened near Brussels during an electrical storm. Some grain stooks were struck by lightning and set afire on the farm of George Bishop. The fire spread rapidly but a heavy down- pour of rain suddenly put the fire out. In 1907, when the Star Theatre opened in Seaforth, citizens were introduced to moving pictures. The Star, a few years later became the Princess. During the war, the Strand was opened and ran for some time. Today, 1932, Seaforth has the Regent, the fourth theatre in the town's history. The opening picture of the riew theatre will be "Palmy Days" and musical comedy featuring Eddie Cantor. Workmen have been engaged installing a disposal system between the Seaforth town hall and the new Regent Theatre, which will be used jointly by the two build- ings. The work is under the direc- tion of Chief of Police, James V. Ryan. September 27,1957 Ernie Geddes of John Street, Seaforth, dug up a champion spud, measuring 15 inches by 12 1/2 inches. The monster weighed one pound, 10 ounces and was a meal in itself. Four Seaforth high school stu- dents have each been awarded $500 scholarships. This has brought the total win in awards by the school to $4,500. The winning scholars include Ronald Ennis, Ronald Scoins, Donald Dearing and Ruth Sills. Seaforth employees of Topnotch Flour Mills Limited joined fellow employees at a dinner in Stratford to mark the 100th anniversary of James Richardson and Sons Limited. Mrs. L. Carter was the grand champion in the baking, canning and dairy section at the Seaforth fair. She was presented with a prize of pots and pans by Mrs. A. Hildebrand. Fat cows sold up to $11.80 a cwt. at the Hensall community sale. Holstein cows sold from $151 to $160. Weanling pigs, $12.50 to $16.75 and sows, $84 to $93. September 15, 1982 After two terms as mayor, John Sinnamon announced at council Monday night that he won't be seeking re-election. If all goes well Seaforth teams will be skating early in December at the new community centre com- plex. That means that about eight weeks of ice time out of town for the Junior D Centenaires and six for their local teams, but rec direc- tor Bryan Peter says area arenas have been booked temporarily for all the regular Seaforth and District arena users.