1  2  3  Next

Is it time that Canada adopted an electoral system of proportional representation?
Should we eliminate first past the post or are we fine the way we are?

   

Bring on PR, or some variant thereof.

   

No.....never, never, never. It allows for small fringe parties to push their agendas through coalition governments.

   

I have not really formulated an opinion on this one so I am interested in the pros and cons.

   

The pros are that our system works.

The cons are that proportional representation allows for tiny minority governments to form and in some circumstances pass legislations that in the case of Nazi Germany are, completely ridiculous.

   

PR means everyone's vote counts equally.

FPTP means where you hang your hat is more important than where you mark your x.

   

So wouldn't proportional representation just exasperate regional differences?

   

Absolutely not. Why would you think that? PR would see members of all parties elected across the country, as well as making everyone's vote worth the same across the country.

Take PEI. Four seats, despite having the population to justify just one. Elected four Liberals last time, despite giving just 53% of the vote to them.

Take Alberta. 28 seats, right in line with the population so underrepresented relative to PEI. But still, gives just 65% of the vote, just less than two thirds, to the Conservatives who nonetheless sweep the province.

Take Quebec. 75 seats. Conservatives win 10 seats when they should have won 18 with their 24% of the popular vote.

FPTP punishes parties with broad, unconcentrated support. FPTP contributes to the east-west polarization by making it look like there are no Liberals in Alberta and no Conservatives in the east.

It's a perversion of democracy.

   

1st past the post has to go.

   

What do the detractors say?

   

That PR elected governments lead ton constant instability due to because of the minority governments produced. Italy in the 80's and Israel are often cited as examples to this end.

Also, the remark is often made that such a system is too complicated for the average voter to understand.

Nevertheless, I think it's a good idea as well. Such a system almost passed here in BC 2 years ago.

   

Actually, under PR, the Cons would have won seats in Toronto and Vancouver. Libs would also have won a couple in Alberta. Under the current system, the reverse was true. I feel PR is far more democratic. If it means more minority governments and coalitions to make EVERYONE'S vote count, it's a small price to pay.

Who knows, if minority governments become the norm, maybe this endless partisan bickering will come to an end (or at least be reduced) and something will get done. As it stands, for the past two years, the government of the day is constantly on the verge of calling another election. I'd like to see more working together and less bickering...guess I'm a starry eyed optimist!

   

Is this generally seen as a right/left issue with support stronger from one side then the other?

Why do we hear so little about it other then in passing in reference to BC?

Why did BC choose not to implement it?

   

Probably because electoral procedure isn't all that sexy a news story...

Here in BC, it was rejected mostly because the system proposed was a bit complicated on the face of it. (you can read about how it was supposed to work here) I didn't think so, but then I was in the minority apparently. The new system was rejected 57-43%.

   

No. This is a powerful / powerless thing. The biggest parties, those which form governments, are frequently aided by the distortion, and as such, they can only lose seats by moving to PR.

Well it was defeated in BC in a referendum is the short answer, but the voters seem not to have chosen to implement the proposed BCSTV due to fears it would be too complicated and difficult for the voters.

The proposal was to have large ridings of two to seven members, in which the voters would rank the nominees in order of their preferences, rather than vote for just one. It gets very complicated in the counting, but the end result is that people's complete preferences can be expressed.

   

1  2  3  Next