ELECTION 2015: The Last "First-Past-the-Post"?

ELECTION 2015: The Last "First-Past-the-Post"?

Postby Oscar » Tue May 13, 2014 8:30 am

Campaign 2015: Make Every Vote Count!

Ten Canadian Commissions, Assemblies and Reports that have recommended proportional representation

[ http://wilfday.blogspot.ca/2014/01/ten- ... s-and.html ]

Monday, January 27, 2014

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QUOTE: “Never should citizens be denied representation simply because their preferred candidate cannot win a single-member riding.” - Fair Vote Canada Statement of Purpose
[ http://www.fairvote.ca/wp-content/uploa ... urpose.pdf ]

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One reason over 70% of Canadians support [ http://wilfday.blogspot.ca/2011/01/poll ... pport.html ] moving toward an element of proportionality in our voting system is the weight of expert evidence. Ten different Commissions, Assemblies and Reports in the past eleven years have unanimously recommended it.

Prelude: Quebec, 1984

The first such report was when René Lévesque decided in 1981 to introduce proportional representation for Quebec, after four elections had produced odd results. In 1984 the Electoral Representation Commission (an agency that reports to the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec) tabled a report recommending that the first-past-the-post system be replaced by a voting system that would allow all Members to be elected proportionally. The PQ caucus decided not to proceed. However, ever since then, many people in Quebec have wanted to revive Lévesque’s democratic legacy.

The Law Commission of Canada

The independent Law Commission of Canada conducted a three-year study on electoral reform. It involved 15 public consultations, ten research papers, and 16 meetings and panels. In 2004 they delivered a 209-page Report [ http://wilfday.blogspot.ca/2011/01/poll ... pport.html ] recommending a made-in-Canada system.

It recommended a mixed system [ http://wilfday.blogspot.ca/2010/04/mmp-made-easy.html ] quite like that of Scotland’s Parliament. A majority of MPs will still be directly elected in local single-member ridings accountable to them. At least a third of MPs will be elected from regions to “top-up” the local results, so that the overall result reflects the share of votes cast for each party.

You have two votes: one to simply choose your local MP, and one for your regional MP which counts as a vote for the party you want in government. Unlike Scotland, for regional MP voters could choose a candidate from those nominated by party members in their region, or could simply vote for the regional slate as ranked by the party members’ nomination process.

The Law Commission model [ http://wilfday.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the- ... nadas.html ] was inspired by that used in Scotland and Wales. In Scotland, the regions have a total of 16 MPs; in Wales, 12. For example, a region might have 14 MPs -- nine local MPs, and five regional “top-up” MPs who campaigned in your region and will compete with your local MP to serve you. It maintains the link between citizens and their representatives. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, which each have 14 MPs, and in the Atlantic provinces, the “region” would be the whole province.

Like all proportional systems, it will let every vote count, and promote consensual, cooperative and cross-party law-making. Since each province would still have the same number of MPs, no constitutional amendment would be needed.

MORE:

[ http://wilfday.blogspot.ca/2014/01/ten- ... s-and.html ]

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The Law Commission of Canada’s proportional representation model

[ http://wilfday.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the- ... nadas.html ]

Saturday, November 9, 2013

(**NOTE: Numerous LINKS at URL above)

The Law Commission of Canada recommended in 2004 “adding an element of proportionality to Canada’s electoral system, as inspired by the systems currently used in Scotland and Wales.”

Along with the UK’s Jenkins Commission recommendations in 1998, these are examples of how proportional representation could work for Canada’s House of Commons.

Every vote counts

Fair Vote Canada says “Never should citizens be denied representation simply because their preferred candidate cannot win a single-member riding.” Once every vote counts, voters will be free to vote for their real first choice, and more voters will find it worthwhile to vote. Turnout is 5 to 6 points higher in countries where the electoral system is proportional, says research published by Elections Canada.

Mixed Member System

The Law Commission recommended a mixed member system. We still elect local MPs. Voters unrepresented by the local results elect regional MPs. This tops up the local results so the total MPs match the vote share. Fair Vote Canada says “The supporters of all candidates and political parties must be fairly represented in our legislatures in proportion to votes cast.”

MORE:

[ http://wilfday.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the- ... nadas.html ]

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FAIR VOTE CANADA - STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

[ http://www.fairvote.ca/wp-content/uploa ... urpose.pdf ]

Adopted by FVC members on August 21, 2009

Fair Vote Canada seeks broad multi-partisan support to embody in new legislation the basic principle of democratic representative government and ultimate safeguard of a free society: the right of each citizen to equal treatment under election laws and equal representation in legislatures.

We campaign for equal effective votes and fair representation at every level of government and throughout civil society by various means including lobbying legislators for electoral law reform, litigation, public education, citizens’ assemblies, and referenda.

To create an equal voice for every citizen and give democratic legitimacy to our laws we must reform our electoral institutions, political parties, public political funding mechanisms and governing processes to achieve these interdependent goals:

Proportional representation: The supporters of all candidates and political parties must be fairly represented in our legislatures in proportion to votes cast. Political parties should have seats in close proportion to their popular support.

Positive voter choice: We need fair and unrestricted competition among political parties presenting democratically-nominated candidates. A democratic voting system must encourage citizens to exercise positive choice by voting for the candidate or party they prefer. They should not find it necessary to embrace negative or strategic voting – to vote for a less-preferred candidate to block the election of one even less preferred. Never should citizens be denied representation simply because their preferred candidate cannot win a single-member riding.

Fair representation: To reflect in the legislatures the diversity of society we must change the voting system and related laws to remove barriers to the nomination and election of candidates from groups now underrepresented including women, cultural minorities and Aboriginals.

Geographic representation: We must change the voting system and related laws to give rural and urban voters in every province, territory and regional community effective votes and fair representation in both government and opposition.

Government accountability to voters: Legislators representing a majority of voters must determine the laws and guide their administration.
Oscar
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