PR campaigners in the Yukon are one step closer to a major breakthrough for electoral reform that could resonate across the country.
Over the past three months, Yukon’s all-party Special Committee on Electoral Reform worked with Statistics Yukon to send a survey to every household, asking if Yukoners would back the creation of a Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
The results are out today and the answer is a resounding YES!
63% of Yukoners want a Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. 28% were not sure, and a mere 8% were opposed.
This survey was the last step before the all-party committee makes a recommendation this spring on the path forward.
The tenacious, multi-year efforts of our volunteers in Fair Vote Yukon had a major impact on the Special Committee on Electoral Reform’s decision to ask Yukoners about a Citizens’ Assembly.
At the critical moment we found out about this survey, Fair Vote Yukon stepped up their efforts—and it paid off! They launched a local advertising campaign in January to reach almost all Yukon households directly by mail!
Modelled after the winning campaign for PR in Portland, Oregon, it included the work of a local artist and endorsements by trusted and respected local community leaders.
Fair Vote Yukon followed this postal mailing with a wave of radio advertising spots that ran on Yukon’s only commercial radio station, right when the survey was reaching Yukon homes.
Today, Yukoners have taken the next step to SAY YES to a fairer, more inclusive and more accountable democracy.
This Yukon minority government has a rare and historic opportunity to revamp democracy―and to show the rest of Canada how it’s done!
This spring, we’ll find out if the Yukon’s Special Committee on Electoral Reform will honour these survey results and move ahead with the creation of a Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
With such overwhelming support, a Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform could be just around the corner.