University of San Carlos

School of Law and Governance

Department of Political Science

Analytical Paper in BP-PSIG 2

Prepared:
Jenny Pearl D. Calizar
AB-PoS
Block A

Ms. Joanna Marie Fuentes-Baroman, MAPS (cand)

BP-PSIG
Course Instructor
March 21, 2020
 First Past The Post in Canada

Each and every country are found to have electoral systems and the democratic ones
are no exception. Electoral system is a method used to calculate the number of elected
positions on government that individuals and parties are awarded after elections First Past the
Post (FPTP) is one of the various types of electoral system. It can be explained simply by the
idea of horse-racing, where the first horse to pass the finish line wins and all other horses lose.
According to the handbook of IDEA’s Electoral System Design, FPTP systems are found in the
United Kingdom and countries that are historically influenced by Britain.

Canada is one of the countries that were influenced by United Kingdom. It is divided into
338 different electoral ridings (an electoral district) and each electoral riding has a ‘seat’ in
Parliament. The Member of Parliament (MP) elected to each seat in Parliament is meant to
represent that electoral riding’s interests. The winning candidate only needs to receive the
most votes out of any candidate, known as a simple majority or a plurality, rather than half of
the votes, known as an absolute majority. The winner in that election will become the MP for
that electoral riding (Canadian Civil Liberties Association, 2020) and the party that elects the
most MP’s typically forms the government.

For Canada, they chose FPTP because they saw that it offers more stability than the
other systems which can trend towards coalition governments. But just like any other electoral
systems, FPTP also has short comings. In the Canadian FPTP system some regions have more
representation in Parliament than others, due to how electoral ridings are divided (Canadian
Civil Liberties Association, 2020). It is also because candidates don’t need absolute majority
(50% or more of votes) to win their riding causing the voters to make them feel as if their votes
doesn’t count. In addressing this matter, Proportional Representation (PR) was suggested as an
alternative. In this system, all votes contribute to the election result. PR would guarantee that
any party with significant support from Canadian voters is represented in the House of
Commons, proportionate to that support.

In Canada’s case, it is clear that FPTP has some drawbacks and people’s votes go to
waste, resulting their interests not being represented in the Parliament. Although they can
reach the Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) (who won but they didn’t vote) who is
assigned in their local riding with regards to their concerns but electing an MP who has the
same values with the individual can be a lot easier in addressing their interests and can
represent them. The people is tired of plugging their noses and voting strategically, they are
tired of not having that assurance that their votes wouldn’t go to waste, and that their interests
wouldn’t be addressed. Therefore I suggest that an electoral reform may be the solution in
addressing this matter. People have to start practicing their democratic and equal rights
through voting for someone that they truly believe in, so that they can be assured that the
MPP’s are responsive to their concerns.