P.E.I. electoral reform eyed by new coalition

A new group has formed to give Islanders the opportunity to make their voices heard when it comes to electoral reform.

The P.E.I. Coalition for Proportional Representation came together from six existing Island groups.

"We want a coalition that will actually work through a process together and look at all of the elements that are involved," said Marie Burge of the Cooper Institute, one of the groups involved so far.

"[Look at] the history of political electoral reform on P.E.I., and also what it is we really need to do now to get a more proportional system in place."

The Island had a plebiscite in 2005 to decide whether it wanted proportional representation, but the vote was no by an almost two to one margin.

The new Liberal government under Premier Wade MacLauchlan is planning a white paper on electoral reform, and MacLauchlan has already said proportional representation will be part of the discussion.

The initial meeting of the P.E.I. Coalition for Proportional Representation will be in mid-September.