Looks like the Make Every Vote Count campaign is finally on the Conservative Party radar. A glossy flyer at the Conservative Party convention this weekend directs party faithful to reject effective votes and proportional representation. Instead, members are told that Canada was founded on the principle of “equality of ridings” – a principle that supposedly leads to “strong, stable, majority Conservative governments. “Say No to Thomas Mulcair,” “Say No to Elizabeth May,” “Say No to proportional representation” the flyer directs.
According to Fair Vote Canada Executive Director Kelly Carmichael, equality of ridings and equality of voters are not mutually exclusive – under a more proportional system, each province would still have the same number of MPs and voters would be treated equally.
“What about equality for voters?” says Fair Vote Canada President Doug Bailie. “There’s not much “equality” in the Canadian electoral system when 7 million Canadians cast wasted votes each federal election. Some Conservatives saying no to proportional representation is not saying no to Thomas Mulcair and Elizabeth May. It’s really saying no to the 76%* of Canadians, voters of all parties, who think our votes should count.”
Stephen Harper himself wrote extensively about the benefits of proportional representation, coalition governments and cooperation in his 1996 paper with Tom Flanagan, “Our Benign Dictatorship”. He seems to have developed a case of amnesia since, as some in the party argue that our archaic First Past the Post system, which distorts results and concentrates power with a single party representing 39% of voters, is now “equal” enough for them.
Seven impartial commissions or assemblies in Canada have now recommended adding proportionality to our electoral system.”Proportional representation – voter equality – will be a big issue in the 2015 election” says Kelly Carmichael. “The kind of representation and accountability voters are seeing from 39% majority governments just isn’t good enough for Canadians. It’s time for a made in Canada, proportional solution.”
*An Environics Survey conducted in March, 2013, asked “Some people favor bringing in a form of proportional representation. This means that the total number of seats held by each party in Parliament would be roughly equivalent to their percentage of the national popular vote. Would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose moving towards a system of proportional representation in Canadian elections?” It found support from 76% of decided respondents (70% support, 18% oppose, “depends” 6%, don’t know 6%), including 61% from Conservative voters.