Moving to an Electoral System of Proportional Representation

Fighter. Builder. Leader.

Fighter. Builder. Leader.

Peggy Nash Campaign for the Leadership of the New Democratic Party

At Issue
Our electoral system just doesnt work. Canada has long outgrown our first-past-the-post (FPTP) system of electing political leaders. This approach to democracy is expired, no longer reflecting our multi-party political landscape and uninspired electorate. The time has come for Canada to join the ranks of so many modern democracies that have transitioned to a form of proportional representation. This is the best and only way to offer Canadians what we deserve a House of Commons that is a truly representative and dynamic reflection of the population it governs. The time has come for proportional representation in Canada.

In Context
Distorting voter intention
Only three federal governments in Canada were elected by a majority of voters since 1921. The first-past-the-post (FPTP) system means majority governments can be formed with as low as 39% of the popular vote. Take the current Harper Conservatives they hold a majority of the seats in the House of Commons, yet only garnered 39.62% of the vote. Last year, over 60% of ballots cast were for parties other than the Conservatives, yet our system affords them the power to enact and block any legislation they so choose. This is the antithesis of democracy. Formal and anecdotal evidence show that growing voter apathy in Canada is a result of feeling like actual votes play no part in shaping the course of our government. It is no wonder voter participation in Canada has slipped to below 60%. FPTP makes voters feel impotent. If the candidate and/or party they vote for does not win, their vote does not impact the final seat count in any meaningful way. FPTP is counter to democracy in that it encourages voters to abandon the candidates, ideas, and political parties they would rather support.

peggynash.ca

Fighter. Builder. Leader.

Peggy Nash Campaign for the Leadership of the New Democratic Party

Regional differences are exacerbated by FPTP since parties are locked out of entire provinces and territories regardless of receiving significant percentages of the overall vote. For example, in 2011, the NDP received 32.3% of the popular vote in Saskatchewan yet did not win a single seat there. If we were serious about the principles of true democracy, we would establish a system in which voters are able to choose who they want to cast a ballot for and in which that ballot is reflected in the final make-up of parliament.

Obstacle to effective governance

Today, parties representing 60% of the popular vote currently occupy a minority of seats in parliament. The Harper Conservatives feel no need to cooperate with them, nor do opposition parties feel encouraged to work with each other. The FPTP system offers no incentive for parties to work together in the interest of a majority of voters. Once lauded for producing stable majority governments, FPTP is the cause of a series of unstable minority governments in Canada which resulted in parliamentary impasses and unwanted elections. This system is unstable because it discourages cooperation whether in minority parliament situations or in a false majority government. Opposition parties who represent a majority of the popular vote should be cooperating rather than having to go it alone to achieve their own governing majority. We need to move decisively to fix an electoral system that literally opposes party cooperation and voter intentions. Many other countries have succeeded in doing this. We can do better, and Canadian voters deserve no less.

peggynash.ca

Fighter. Builder. Leader.

Peggy Nash Campaign for the Leadership of the New Democratic Party

The Peggy Nash Plan

Under my leadership, the NDP and the next government will: 1. Move proportional representation (PR) beyond the platform to a campaign & legislative priority by: raising the issue of PR in parliament, in media, and in public discourse as often and loudly as possible to make it a prominent, salient issue spoken to regularly by politicians, pundits, and voters; launching a formal campaign for NDP riding associations, caucus, members, and via ndp.ca to spread the word and persuade voters about the merits of a PR system, including tools for engagement/outreach; collaborating with & leveraging relationships with like-minded organizations from all levels who are already working on this issue; cooperating with parties that support implementing a proportional representation system to further raise awareness and public support. 2. Inspire non-voters to become engaged. In May 2011, the NDP came in second place in over 120 ridings. By increasing our support in enough of those ridings, we will procure the votes needed in parliament to implement proportional representation (see my organizational blueprint for strategies on how to achieve this). More progressive Canadians will unify with us when they are confident their local candidate and party intend to follow through with concrete action. We have the credibility and organization to make proportional representation a reality by: designing and offering a plan to restore value to votes through proportional representation; targeting the 40% of us who did not cast a ballot in 2011, especially the young people who make up a majority of that 40%. 4

peggynash.ca

Fighter. Builder. Leader.

Peggy Nash Campaign for the Leadership of the New Democratic Party

3. Pursue the implementation of a system of proportional representation by: establishing a Royal Commission on Electoral Reform, in collaboration with other parties, within the first six months of forming government to make specific recommendations on which system (or combination of systems) is best suited for Canada as well as the most effective legislative process to implement the changes; seeking meaningful input from all Canadians in all regions, as well as civil society, via the Commission and otherwise to shape the process of implementing Canadas own system of proportional representation.

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