Rationale for Changing Canada’s Electoral System: 

• In 2006 and 2008, less than half of Canadians who voted in those elections could point to any member of the legislature whom their vote had helped to elect.  Many interviewees said they think that is the main reason why voter turnout continues to drop in Canada.
   
• Only 41% of those eligible to vote actually voted in Alberta’s most recent general election  Non voters said they didn’t vote because their vote would have had no effect: that there wouldn’t have been enough votes for their candidate to win;  or that their vote wouldn’t have been needed for their candidate to win.
   
• IT’S THE SYSTEM. The present system is outdated and doesn’t reflect the true wishes of Canadians.

        The purpose of this electoral system is to give all electors more reason to vote and to make Canada a more truly representative democracy that has greater chance to function more effectively.

        The alternative system was applied to Canada’s 2006 and 2008 election results for smaller geographical areas with between four and ten ridings. A large increase in voter effectiveness resulted. Results of this system on improving voter effectiveness on rural ridings is not complete at this time, but the system effectiveness can be seen on the 132 ridings in the 22 small geographical areas examined.
(See COMPARISON OF SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS below)

This system would result in:

- all MPs being elected using a voting process similar to the present system in Canada

- a close correlation between political parties’ votes and seats.

- little or no loss in rural or urban representation

- good local representation and more connection between each MP and the grassroots whom he/she would be elected to represent, with less possibility of party control

- some satisfaction for non-winning candidates and their supporters

- reduced loss of the valuable experience of highly regarded incumbents who lose their seats by a few votes due to a government turnover

        This alternative system would almost always result in a minority government, which would give legislators more reason to work together effectively, negotiating to produce legislation for the benefit of society as a whole. 

        Governing parties generally prefer a majority of seats.  With a majority, a governing party can, and generally does, pass legislation intended for the greater benefit of one segment of society.

    It might be argued that, “Today we have a minority government.  How can you say minority governments work effectively?”

       Under Canada’s present system, by gaining a good position for the election, minority governments have a good chance of becoming a majority. Therefore, instead of governance, which we elected them for, the focus of all parties appears to be on positioning themselves for the election that could come at any time.

        Majority governments, with 100% power have been elected with as little as 37% of the votes cast with Canada’s present electoral system.

back--home--next