When applied to the 2006 and 2008 election results, this system greatly increased the number of effective voters in the areas studied. This system is preferential, so second and third choices would increase that number of effective voters even more. Those results for PEI and cities with four or more ridings can be seen by going to the Federal Results link above.
Yukon’s Legislature would require no additional seats. Canada’s Parliament would require only one additional seat to give this increase in effectiveness to all voters in Canada, including Canada’s northern territories.
TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM, FOLLOW THESE LINKS
2011 Yukon Electoral Area Results Related Maps: Yukon Whitehorse
The Three Yukon Electoral Areas’ Results or Some Canadian Federal Electoral Area Results
or Alberta’s 2008 Election Results
FAIR VOTE YUKON
FVY’s Next Meeting:
Come and HELP CHANGE HAPPEN
Representative minority governments would replace false majority governments.
The Opposition would have the power to demand, for Yukoners, more transparency and accountability from Government. With a fair and effective electoral system, Government would need at least some Opposition support to govern and Yukon could become a truly fair and representative democracy. Power games would not fit.
All voters would be represented by more than one MLA. If one MLAs party was not interested in discussing a constituent’s concern, the constituent could take the concern to the other MLA whom they elected.
If constituents thought an MLA needed it, they could encourage the MLA whom they helped to elect to work collaboratively. MLAs who were seen to habitually not work collaboratively would not be re elected.
If governing was stopped because of Government abuse of their executive power or lack of accountability and/or transparency, following the next election the present Government would probably not be re elected as Government. If governing was stopped by the Opposition’s abuse of their power, following the next election, the Government would probably be re elected, possibly with a true majority.
Be Heard
Change happens when there is enough of a public outcry, or the effects of a problem are so evident that decision makers are forced to act.”
Tzeporah Berman-This Crazy Time
Candidates should be chosen by constituents and not require the signature of their political party leader. MPs and MLAs could then confidently stand for their constituents.
Elizabeth May, Leader, Green Party of Canada
Yukon needs a better vote-counting system
Recently, Premier Pasloski was asked if he would add an electoral system study to his party’s 2013 Spring agenda. Response: The electoral system will not be on the Spring agenda. It was not something that we heard during the election, nor is it in our platform.
Canada Could Have More Representative, Inclusive Elections
IF YOU, I, AND OUR NEIGHBORS ACT, CHANGE CAN HAPPEN.
“It is believed that we as Canadians can find inclusive ways of solving problems through effective communication and collaboration rather than conflict and control Deep within the Canadian psyche is the notion of appreciating, respecting and accommodating differences. These values should be reflected in our electoral process.
Our present system of voting encourages conflict and adversarial roles. A more effective electoral system can minimize this conflict and maximize collaboration. This following electoral model increases the chance of having your voice heard.” Bob Sharp, International Experiential Science expert
Quick video views of how Canada’s First-Past-the-Post voting system works and doesn’t work
“Big Parties” (1:23 minute video)
“Empty Feeling” (59 second video) From Fair Vote Canada Website
“The heart of democracy is inclusion.”
-Geraldine van Bibber, former Yukon Commissioner, Lt. Governor
Heather Rusk
The Problem I See:
The present First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system is not representative of voters and results in dividing community rather than building community as democracy is meant to do. For example: The total Yukon Territory is divided into ridings (EDs), each having one MLA to represent it. That MLA only needs one more vote than the competing candidates to win the seat. If you don’t vote for the winner in your ED, your vote is not represented by any MLA in the Legislative Assembly.
This leads to distortions such as false majority governments like those shown on the chart above. The present Government was elected by and represents 27% of the voters yet has 100% power. Over half the voters are not represented. In my view, this present FPP system with its non-inclusiveness, creates dysfunctional governance which focuses on political power games rather than good governance.
How I Became Aware And Concerned:
Following retirement, I felt honored to be appointed Federal Returning Officer (RO) for Yukon in 1996 for “special trust and confidence in my loyalty, integrity and ability” by His Excellency the Governor General in Council.
Following the 2004 election, concern over the dropping number of voters turning out at elections was acted upon, and I was appointed to serve on an Elections Canada RO committee, to review and recommend proposals that had been called for and put forward to increase voter turnout at elections. My first shock came at the first meeting when one member said something like, “What are we looking at this . . . . stuff for? Why aren’t we looking at improving our voting system?” We were told that we can’t discuss that because the electoral system is a political issue, and Elections Canada must remain apolitical. The topic was no longer discussed at formal meetings. I was shocked at the statement against Canada’s system and at that time didn’t see anything wrong with the FPP system. The candidate with the most votes wins the seat.
However, at the meetings after formal meetings, electoral systems were discussed. I became aware of many other systems with a wakeup call and was shocked that my Canada, which I thought was a representative democracy, could have such an ineffective electoral system. My resignation became effective immediately after validating the vote in Canada’s 2006 election.
That is when helping Canada to become a truly representative democracy became my life’s mission. That was also about the time that Rick Mercer won a name change vote for a leading politician in about two weeks, so I didn’t think that my mission was going to take very long. Though many people told me it is “impossible to change it”, or “never in your lifetime”, I couldn’t imagine the mission not being completed years before now. I think that most people today are like I was before I took a critical look at Canada’s electoral system. Almost everyone with whom I have discussed the topic are as shocked as I was. Most enthusiastically encouraged me to keep working on it.
What I Support:
Until I see a better one, I propose this new electoral system that I developed from the expressed thoughts of many interested people. At this time, the proposed system is called Preferential Proportional Combination (PPC). The PPC system uses the good parts of three systems: Canada’s present system, a preferential system and a proportional system. PPC is fair, relatively simple, requires no more MLAs, and gives effectiveness to almost all election participants:
1. The present system that has ridings (Electoral districts, (EDs)) in which voters can know who they are voting for with relative ease, a familiar voting process , and the same number of candidates to choose from.
2. A preferential 1,2,3 system that results in ED MLAs being elected by over half of the ED voters. Preferential voting avoids vote splitting. For more on the benefits of this, see: Is your cat confused about the alternative vote (AV)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHuiDD_oTk
3. A proportional system that gives value to votes for losing ED candidates.
Almost all voters will be able to point to an MLA whom their vote helped to elect and be relatively comfortable taking their complements, suggestions or concerns to.
Website in process of rebuild * * * * * * * *
My Mission:
To assist Yukoners and Canadians, supporters of all political parties, in the development and implementation of an electoral system that gives value and fair representation to all election participants, whether or not they support the winning candidate of their riding (electoral district (ED)).
Dave Brekke, Very concerned former Federal Returning Officer
Suggestions to dave@electoralchange.ca
“The heart of democracy is inclusion.”
-Geraldine van Bibber, former Yukon Commissioner, Lt. Governor
- IF YOU WANT YOUR VOTE TO COUNT IN THE NEXT ELECTION,
THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW!
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