Ontario Citizens’ Assembly Ontario Population Ontario Legislative Assembly

Sex Male Male Male

Female Female Female

Age 18–24 18–24 18–24

25–39 25–39 25–39

40–54 40–54 40–54

55–70 55–70 55–70

71+ 71+ 71+

Income Less than

$19,999
Less than
$19,999
Less than
$19,999

$20,000– $20,000– $20,000–

39,999 39,999 39,999

$40,000– $40,000– $40,000–

59,999 59,999 59,999

$60,000– $60,000– $60,000–

79,999 79,999 79,999

$80,000+ $80,000+ $80,000+

Education Less than

high school
Less than
high school
Less than
high school
completion completion completion

High school High school High school

diploma or diploma or diploma or
equivalent equivalent equivalent

Some post- Some post- Some post-

secondary secondary secondary
education education education

University University University

degree at or degree at or degree at or
above the above the above the
bachelor bachelor bachelor
level level level

Ethnicity White White White

South South South

Asian Asian Asian

East East East

Asian Asian Asian

Black Black Black

Southeast Southeast Southeast

Asian Asian Asian

Aboriginal Aboriginal Aboriginal

Latin Latin Latin

American American American

Other Other Other

Place of birth Ontario Ontario Ontario

Other provinces Other provinces Other provinces

and territories and territories and territories

Outside Outside Outside

Canada Canada Canada

The Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform was created to assess Ontario’s electoral system and
recommend whether the province should retain its current system or adopt a new one. Elections
Ontario designed a highly innovative method for selecting members of the Citizens’ Assembly.
Invitation letters were sent to 123,948 randomly identified citizens listed on the province’s Permanent
Register of Electors. 7,033 people agreed to allow their names to stand in a civic lottery. Between
April and June 2006, one citizen from each of the province’s 103 electoral districts had his or her name
drawn and was officially asked to serve as a member of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
On September 9, 2006, the members of Ontario’s first Citizens’ Assembly gathered at York University
in Toronto. Over the next eight months they would meet every second weekend to learn about
Ontario’s electoral system and its alternatives, consult with other citizens throughout the province
and reach a decision. On April 15, 2007, the assembly members voted overwhelmingly to recommend
that the province adopt a Mixed Member Proportional system. Their recommendation was later
rejected by a provincial referendum on October 10, 2007.
This illustration contrasts the 103 members of the Ontario Citizens’ Assembly and the 103 members
of the Ontario legislature with the voting population of Ontario, itself represented as an assembly
of 103 citizens. We compare six demographic attributes: sex, age, income, education, ethnicity
and place of birth.
For data sources and more information, visit: masslbp.com/representation
MASS LBP is a new kind of company which works with visionary governments and corporations
to deepen and improve public consultation and engagement. Inspired by Canada’s first Citizens’
Assemblies, we design innovative public learning processes that build awareness, consensus and
insight. MASS LBP is based in Toronto with staff in Vancouver, Ottawa and London, UK.
MASS LBP is reinventing public consultation | masslbp.com