Fair Vote Canada is a national citizens’ campaign for
proportional representation (PR).
ACT NOW TO SUPPORT PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION:
TELL JUSTIN TRUDEAU TO VOTE YES TO A NATIONAL CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY ON ELECTORAL REFORM!
VOTE AHEAD! In May 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Liberal MPs will be voting on whether to back a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform at the Liberal Party’s national convention in Ottawa. This is a rare and exciting opportunity. A YES vote could kickstart the next opportunity for electoral reform in Canada.
It’s time to make our voices heard. Click here to send a card to Justin Trudeau asking him to vote YES. Learn more about the resolution.
Election results and important campaign topics
National Poll
A December 2022 EKOS poll shows 76% of Canadians—including a strong majority of supporters of all parties—back a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
Support for the fundamental principle of proportional representation is strong. 90% say that Parliament should reflect how people voted. 78% think that majority governments should have at least 50% of the popular vote.
Canadians firmly oppose any single party alone changing the electoral system to suit their preferences. Read the full results!
Federal election 2021
Read our press release on how first-past-the-post failed Canadian voters in the September 2021 federal election. On the page you’ll also find a link to simulations of the election results with proportional representation.
Ontario election 2022
Read our press release on how first-past-the-post failed Ontario voters in the the June 2022 federal election.
National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
Fair Vote Canada is calling for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. Politicians are in a conflict of interest when it comes to changing the system that elected them. We need citizens to lead, with a process of non-partisan, informed decision-making we can trust. Learn more about citizens’ assemblies.
Non-proportional ranked ballots are no solution
When people hear the term “ranked ballot” they often think of the system that Justin Trudeau likes. This system, properly called Alternative Vote, just pastes a ranked ballot onto our current system, and delivers results as bad (or even worse!) than first-past-the-post. You can learn about why ranked ballots in single member ridings are no solution here.
WIN! Parliamentary Committee votes to study a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform
In June 2021 the Procedure and House Affairs Committee in Parliament passed a motion to study the idea of a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. The motion was introduced by the NDP’s Democratic Reform Critic, MP Daniel Blaikie. All the MPs on the committee except the Conservatives voted for it.
Unfortunately, the snap election of August 2021 meant we have to start over in this new Parliament. We look forward to Daniel Blaikie bringing the motion back to the newly constituted Procedures and House Affairs Committee.
Research shows proportional representation reduces partisan hostility
Many Canadians are deeply concerned with creeping political polarization in Canada. Research shows that cooperative governance produced by proportional representation reduces partisan hostility and polarization among the public.
“The citizens gave us a mandate form a government together.”
How German elections are fairer than Canadian elections
Germany’s 2021 election with proportional representation provides a contrast to first-past-the-post in Canada. In Germany, almost every voter counts. Results are fair. Politics is cooperative.
Canadians were first promised proportional representation in 1921
Once in power, politicians like the system that elected them. Learn about 100 years of inaction and broken promises on proportion representation.
Democracy in New Zealand with proportional representation
In 2020, Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party won an outright majority government―a rare event in a proportional system, and the first time it happened there since New Zealand adopted PR.
Her response was an indication of how far New Zealand had come in evolving to a new kind of politics. Ardern didn’t need to collaborate with any other party to govern. She could have governed alone―and claimed a “strong mandate” to do so. Instead, she reached across the aisle to work with another party.
Electoral Reform needed to protect Canada from foreign interference
Canadians worried about foreign interference in our elections need to know that our decrepit voting system makes us particularly vulnerable. Canada’s winner-take-all voting system turns the nefarious efforts of foreign actors into a highly rewarding endeavor.
Are our political parties at war with us?
What is the happening to the relationship between voters and politicians? Guest writer Vivian Unger explains how first-past-the-post leads the people we vote for to con us, lie to us, thwart our will – and even take away our parties.
Citizens’ Assemblies are shaking up the status quo in Ireland—and getting results
Having a solid foundation of proportional representation, Ireland is now blazing a trail for other democracies by becoming a world leader in the use of citizens’ assemblies.
First-past-the-post empowers leaders with extreme political views
The voting system system impacts how much influence over government policy politicians with extreme views may have. A proportional system tends to moderate the impact of extremist politicians.
Research
Check out the research on proportional representation, including measures of democracy and outcomes on issues including health, economics, environment and more.
Are referendums the best way to get an informed decision on electoral reform? Read our position statement on referendums or watch our in-depth webinar of lessons learned.
Countries with proportional representation do better on climate performance. Read our special report on climate and PR.
Organizations that support Fair Vote Canada in our mission to achieve Proportional Representation
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