The P.E.I. Coalition for Proportional Representation will cease operations by the end of the month, the group announced Monday morning.
In a news release, the group said the Electoral Systems Referendum Act, currently being debated in the legislature, prompted the move.
"Our decision to disband responds to the repressive rules proposed in Bill 38, the Electoral Systems Referendum Act," said coalition spokesperson Leo Cheverie.
"It is now clear that within the current political climate we are now viewed in an unnecessarily adversarial and hostile way."
The province will hold a referendum in conjunction with the next provincial election on whether to retain the current first-past-the-post system or move to a mixed-member proportional system.
The government says the act will ensure a level playing field by banning fundraising for referendum campaigning by either side, and providing $75,000 from government coffers to both the yes and no campaigns.
A successful 2016 campaign
The coalition, which includes 12 member organizations, came together for the 2016 plebiscite on electoral reform. That plebiscite came out in favour of mixed-member proportional, but the government said voter turnout was too low to make a change.
The coalition says if the legislation passes — its website, social media pages and email list will immediately be shut down to avoid being in violation of the campaign rules. Any money held by the coalition will be held in trust for future use in promoting democratic reform, once it becomes clear how that money can be used.
A space for individual citizens to communicate and coordinate with each other to advance proportional representation.- Anna Keenan
In place of the coalition the P.E.I. Proportional Representation Network is being formed.
"The new network is intended to be a space for individual citizens to communicate and coordinate with each other to advance proportional representation on P.E.I.," said Anna Keenan, who served as coalition campaign director in 2016.
"It won't be a formal decision-making body like the coalition has been."
The coalition believes the best way for the pro-PR campaign to succeed is broad-based, decentralized, citizen network.