Yukoners are pushing the territorial government to establish a citizens' commission on electoral reform.

'We recognize that there's a disillusionment with politics by many people in the population,' Ross Findlater, a member of the Citizens for Electoral Reform Yukon, said today.

'We believe that part of that is related to the fact that people feel their vote doesn't count.'

The organization has launched a petition this week that will eventually be presented to the legislative assembly. It asks the government to establish an independent Yukon Citizen's Commission on Electoral Reform to look at various options for voting in the territory.

The proposition is the current first-past-the-post system, which awards a seat to the individual with the most votes in a particular riding, doesn't truly reflect the wishes of the electorate.

'At this time, if you don't vote for the winner, where does your vote go?' asked Dave Brekke, another member of the electoral reform organization.

'I've heard people say, I don't want to waste my time voting. My vote doesn't count for anything.'

'We want to see where electors are able to point to someone in the legislature that they have actually helped elect.'

In the 2002 election, the Yukon Party won 40 per cent of the popular vote in the territory, but now occupy 66 per cent of the seats in the legislature.

In the 2000 election, there were similar results when the Liberal party had 43 per cent of the popular vote, but 58 per cent of the seats in the House.

The petition, which is being distributed in Whitehorse and the communities, indicates the current electoral system is not fair. Since 1978, six of the eight majority governments have been elected by fewer than half of the voters.

'There exists a substantial imbalance between the percentage of the votes received by each party and the percentage of seats they have won,' the petition states.

Findlater said the establishment of a citizens' commission, which it is also hoped following its final report would lead to a referendum for Yukoners to decided what the preferred electoral system should be, will simply give citizens a real chance to look at the different options available.

During the 2002 election, the Yukon Party promised to form a commission to review election reform in the territory.

However, a $124,000-report by former commissioner Ken McKinnon found the territory to be more in need of legislative reform than electoral reform.

The report was heavily criticized by the opposition parties during the spring sitting of the legislature. It was argued its findings were seriously flawed because there had been a lack of public consultations with Yukoners.

A commission needs to be struck that ensures all Yukoners have an opportunity to express their concerns and be informed of the different options available, Opposition Leader Todd Hardy told the Star in an interview today.

'There's a multitude of models,' he said.

There isn't a particular voting system now being favoured by the electoral reform group, said Findlater.

However, a press release by the Citizens for Electoral Reform draws reference to British Columbia and New Zealand.

A citizens' commission in B.C. proposed a proportional electoral system that uses a single transferable vote. This system would provide the election of several MLAs based on the size of a riding and would also permit voters to rank candidates on their ballots.

In New Zealand, a mixed member proportional system is used, permitting voters to place a vote for a party and for a candidate to represent their riding.

The key is to find the system that works for the Yukon, said Hardy.

Findlater said he has been encouraged by the interest shown in electoral reform over the last year. Individuals attending the group's meetings include former politicians and cabinet ministers.

Former NDP leader Audrey McLaughlin has also became involved with the group. The Star was unable to reach the former Yukon MP for comment today.

Most of the response has been positive from the individuals Findlater has spoken with, he said.

However, Brekke acknowledged there are some people who are satisfied with the current voting system.

The main objective is to put the question to Yukoners about what they want, he said.

'If people want to keep their present electoral system, so be it. But, I think it should be thoroughly looked at, and people need to be informed.'

With the pending byelection in Copperbelt riding, following former independent MLA Haakon Arntzen's resignation, Hardy said, Premier Dennis Fentie has an ideal opportunity to 'kick-start' electoral reform.

Hardy would like to see the premier set the dates for the byelection, along with the next territorial general election. He would also like to hear an announcement on the date of the fall sitting of the legislature.

'Being up-front about when the next election will take place and the house will sit promotes a more positive relationship to the political process for both voters and the business community. It also allows more orderly election planning,' said Hardy.

Fentie was unavailable to comment on the petitition before press time this afternoon.