Modelled on the British Columbia equivalent, it reviewed the first past the post electoral system currently in use to elect members of the Ontario Legislature, with the authority to recommend an alternative.
Under chairperson George Thomson, the independent body of citizens met twice a month from September 9, 2006 (six weekends in the third quarter of 2006 and six from February 17 to April 29) to examine the current electoral system.
Queen's University Associate Professor of Political Science, Jonathan Rose, led the assembly in the Learning Phase in the fall of 2006.
The assembly's work ended with the submission of their final report due on May 15, 2007, recommending a mixed member proportional system similar to that used in New Zealand.
This threshold was decided by the Ontario cabinet, despite the recommendation of the Select Committee that it require only 50 percent support in two-thirds, or 71, of the 107 ridings.
The assembly's recommendation was voted upon by Ontario voters in the referendum held on October 10, 2007, at the same time as the provincial election.
63 percent of Ontarians voted in favour of first-past-the-post and no change to the Ontario electoral system was made as a result.
In particular, it is seen as a good method for studying electoral reform as politicians face a fundamental conflict of interest when it comes to evaluating the system that elects them.
[citation needed] Advocates of Canadian federal electoral reform considered the Ontario vote as crucial because they felt the adoption of proportional representation in Canada's most populous province would have provided impetus for reform and practical Canadian evidence on how proportional systems respond to voters.