Dear Editor,

Larry Miller's letter (August 12) includes a false statement. The proposal for Proportional Representation for Ontario never included unelected representatives. It was an extremely intelligent proposal arrived at by a "Citizens Assembly" in a process which was admired worldwide. Their proposal for an MMP system (Mixed member proportional) required that the process used by the parties to select candidates for the list had to be "transparent." And remember: Larry Miller and the three candidates of the other parties were chosen by their own riding associations, not by citizens. During the actual election the citizens decide which of the parties' chosen candidates to vote for. A similar method would be used to select candidates for the list--with the rank-and-file members of the party selecting the most attractive candidates.The beauty of the lists is that they appear as a "slate," so every party has a strong incentive to be inclusive and diverse. This is why MMP systems produce better representation of women and minorities.

Interestingly the Conservative position on PR has done a 180 degree turn. In an article entitled "Our Benign Democracy" co-penned by Harper and Tom Flanagan in 1996/97 the authors say, "OUR system of one-party rule has stunted democracy...Many of Canada's problems stem from a winner-take-all style of politics that allows governments in Ottawa to impose measures abhorred by large areas of the country. " They also state, in the days before the merger with the Progressive Conservatives,"small-c conservatives would benefit from PR because they will never gain a majority."

Joyce Hall.

Markdale