$6.8 Million Budgeted for Education Campaign

Ontario’s chief electoral officer John Hollins has budgeted $6.8 million for an education campaign to teach voters about the upcoming referendum. According to Hollins, the amount has chosen based on the amount of advertising needed.

There could be a lot of need. A poll that showed only 8 per cent of Ontario residents were well-educated about the referendum. The pro-reform group Fair Vote Canada says that $6.8 million is “a disappointment” and not enough to educate voters.

Complete details of the projected budget in the Elections Ontario Report (pdf).

Referendum Question Finalized

The Toronto Star is reporting that the wording of the October 10th referendum on election reform is different than the expected yes or no question recommended by the Ontario Citizens’ Assembly on Election Reform because of concerns that the original yes or no question was biased in favour of a change to MMP.  Instead of asking if you supported the change to the mixed member proportional system, The Star states it will be:

“Which electoral system should Ontario use to elect members to the provincial legislature?”

Voters will be given two choices: “The existing electoral system (first-past-the-post)” or “the alternative electoral system proposed by the citizens’ assembly (mixed member proportional).”