Proportional Representation in Canada

There was considerable discussion before, during and after the last election as to whether there should be some form of proportional representation. There are two main approaches to such a scheme, a form of single transferable vote or ranked ballots or multiple member electoral districts.

I am looking at a modification of the latter. British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, elections Canada already divides the provinces into sub-provincial regions. For this presentation I will consider them to be multiple member ridings (regions). Other provinces I hav e more or less treated as having one region

Prov. Territory Lib — Con — NDP — Green —P.Q. — Ind. — Total

Territories — — 2 — — 0 — — -1 — — 0 — — — 0 — — 0 — — — 3

NL — — — — — -3 — — - 2 — — 2 — — 0 — — — 0 — — 0 — — — 7

PEI — — — — — 2 — — -1 — — -0 — — 1 — — — 0 — — 0 — — — 4

NS — — — — — -5 — — -3 — — 2 — — 1 — — — 0 — — 0 — — — 11

NB — — — — — 4 — — -3 — — 1 — — 2 — — — -0 — — 0 — — — 10

Quebec — — — 30 — — 13 — -8 — — 2 — — — 25 — — 0 — — — 78

Ontario — — — 62 — —38 — -19 — -2 — — — -0 — — -0 — — — 121

Manitoba — — 3 — — — 8 —-3 — — 0 — — — 0 — — -0 — — — -14

Sask. — — — — 1 — — 12 — -1 — — 0 — — — 0 — — -0 — — — -14

Alberta — — — 0 — — -33 —1 — — 0 — — — 0 — — -0 — — — -34

BC — — — — 17 — — -11 — -10 — — 4 — — -0 — — -0 — — — -42

C. P. R. — — 129 —124 — — 48 — 12 — — -25 — — 0 — — — 338

C. Actual — 157 — -121 — — 24 — -3 — — -32 — — -1 — — — 338

I have allocated seats on the following principal.

1. Anyone who receives a majority is automatically elected.
2. All other seats are allocated according to the proportion of the popular vote.
3. Candidates are ranked according to what proportion of the vote they received and then allocated accordingly.
4. No party would be given a seat unless they received at least a .67 of a seat.

You will note that the Liberal party under this scheme would retained its minority status but considerably reduced, generally at the expense of the NDP. The Conservative party would gain three seats, and The NDP would double their seat count from 24 to 48. The Green party would mushroom from 3 seats to 12 but the B.Q would drop seven seats and only claim 25 instead of 32.

It is also noteworthy that in some provinces there was little change as most seats were won by a majority.

In short, one would not have to change any of the election machinery to implement such a scheme. It would have two advantages. First, the house would be closer to being proportional to how the electorate voted with respect to party affiliation. Second. there would be fewer ‘safe’ seats and candidates would not be able to take their electorate quite so easily for granted. To ensure their victory, they would have to work harder to win a majority or at least a high plurality to ensure landing a job. In my opinion, democracy would benefit from both.

My mantra

If you agree, i’m serious, if you don’t, i’m not.