National Advisory Board
FVC News
Australian election - another example of distorted results from winner-take-all voting
As Australians await the results on a few remaining swing seats, the election returns have already demonstrated, yet again, that winner-take-all voting systems have no place in 21st century democracies, said Fair Vote Canada, a national citizens’ campaign for voting system reform.
While Australia’s Liberal-National coalition received 44% of the votes and Labour only 38%, both will end up with about the same number of seats. Meanwhile, the Green Party, with more than 11% of the votes will have just one of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives.
FVC featured in This Magazine cover story
The July/August cover story in This Magazine looks at the fight for proportional representation and the history of Fair Vote Canada.
FVC in the news: "reform the Senate by reforming the House"
Given that any movement on Senate reform will undoubtedly trigger an extended constitutional debate, Fair Vote Canada called on the government to take two immediate actions.
First, Canadians should be asked in a referendum to decide whether the Senate should be abolished or elected. If the latter option is chosen, then several issues must be addressed concurrently: method of election, fair allocation of seats for the regions, and clarification of the roles and authority of the two chambers.
FVC supporter recognition program launched
A grassroots citizens’ movement depends on the hard work of dedicated volunteers and the generous donations of supporters. Fair Vote Canada has just added a new page to our website where we will salute these important contributors
UK may reform House of Lords while Canada stuck in Senate quagmire
As British Prime Minister Gordon Brown prepares to announce plans to replace the unelected House of Lords with an elected upper chamber, Canada is headed for a constitutional quagmire on Senate reform – unless Canada’s political leaders see that parliamentary reform should begin with the House of Commons, says Fair Vote Canada.
Fair Vote Canada council election - must be a member by Feb. 28 to vote
Fair Vote Canada National Council election is coming!
Are you a member?
Are you interested in being a candidate?
In April, members in good standing of Fair Vote Canada will be eligible to cast votes and run for office in the election of FVC’s National Council. Members will use the single transferable vote (a proportional voting system) to elect candidates to fill seven seats on the 15-seat National Council.
FVC Toronto chapter calls for voting reform in Toronto
The FVC Toronto chapter is calling for the adoption of a fair and proportional voting system for Toronto.
On February 11, chapter member Camille Labchuk was one of 17 presenters at an Ignite-style public event hosted by VoteTO.
Election projections throw light on Gordon Brown’s phony electoral reform scheme
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is proposing an electoral “reform” that just happens to give his party more advantage and would likely create “more distorted outcomes than first-past-the-post”, according to projections presented in The New Statesman.
If his Labour government is re-elected, Gordon Brown promises a referendum on the Alternative Vote (AV), sometimes called Instant Run-off Voting.
FVC supporters spread the word on fair voting at January 23 rallies
Fair Vote Canada members and supporters were out in force at the January 23 anti-prorogation rallies, spreading the word about the need for electoral reform.
Volunteers were carrying signs, distributing flyers and gathering signatures on the FVC Declaration of Voters' Rights.
John Deverell fantasizes about Ignatieff conversion
How will we get electoral reform on the national agenda? FVC treasurer John Deverell suggests one scenario in "Canada goes democratic in 2010: A fevered fantasy?" See article at rabble.ca.