Proportional Representation

A Path to True Democracy through Proportional Representation

In Proportional Representation (PR), nearly all votes contribute to forming the government, resulting in outcomes that genuinely reflect the views of the total population. This system addresses the critical issue of diminished democracy and the rise of oligarchy, a phenomenon evident in North American politics.

Canada’s current electoral system, First-Past-the-Post (FPTP), fails to accurately represent the political will of the voting populace. Votes cast in a riding that do not elect the winner are essentially discarded, often amounting to as much as 60% to 70% of the votes in any given region. Under FPTP, typically less than half of the votes cast influence the composition of the House, stripping representation from minority parties that nonetheless represent significant portions of the population.

In contrast, various systems of Proportional Representation are employed worldwide, with over 85% of OECD countries and 94 nations using some form of PR for federal elections. These countries, some of the most successful democracies, report high levels of satisfaction with their governments' composition. Canada and the USA, however, lag in establishing truly democratic representation.

Among the PR systems, we advocate for the Single Transferable Vote (STV). The BC Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform, after an extensive 11-month study of global electoral systems, endorsed PR-STV as their preferred model. STV has been employed nationally in Ireland since its independence in 1922 and is also used in various regions, including four Australian territories and for local elections in Scotland. Historically, it was used in Winnipeg, Calgary, and Edmonton for 30 years.

STV ensures fair election outcomes where almost every vote counts. It allows for local representatives who reflect voters' political preferences, fosters collaboration between parties, and promotes the election of more women and minorities. Unlike the Party List system, which can obscure local representation, STV maintains voters’ ability to choose local candidates, ensuring more accurate geographic representation.

Under STV, larger voting districts elect multiple representatives. Parties are encouraged to field multiple candidates, with a threshold number of votes, based on the region’s population and the number of seats, required for election. Voters rank their preferred candidates from any party, and once a candidate is elected, surplus votes are transferred to the next preference, ensuring minimal waste.

For a deeper understanding of STV and its proposed implementation in Canada, Fair Vote Canada provides extensive resources and examples. They have been pioneering electoral reform since 2001, advocating as solution makers for a more representative system.

Implementing PR requires significant political will, typically necessitating an elected majority government to enact such reforms. Persuading politicians to adopt this change involves considerable lobbying and public pressure. However, even majority parties have incentives to support PR, as it still positions them favorably within a more proportionate system, preventing the extreme swings seen in FPTP that can disrupt national progress.

PR encourages coalition governments, fostering policy development that reflects the broader population's views. It promotes cooperation and mutual agreement, reducing the dominance of a single majority party's unchecked will.

This transformative change is equally critical for the USA, paving the way for more democratic governance on both sides of the border.

Taking Action on Proportional Representation

To champion Proportional Representation, you can:

Write to the Prime Minister and MPs, Premiers and MLAs, provincial, federal and municipal representatives, urging them to support PR and specifically STV.
Include discussion of PR and STV in discussions at local rallies, meetings, and information sessions.
Share information about PR and STV with friends and family and on social media.
Sign and promote online petitions advocating for proportional representation.

Instituting Proportional Representation is likely the most important first step to ensuring the government fairly represents the views of the people. By adopting PR, we can create a government that is more responsive to the issues that matter most to Canadians.