Like it or not, the average Canadian would rather their representative be chosen by local votes, not based on national proportions. I’m not saying it’s ideal, I’m saying it’s realistic.
Like it or not, the average Canadian would rather their representative be chosen by local votes, not based on national proportions. I’m not saying it’s ideal, I’m saying it’s realistic.
This is a false dichotomy that has been perpetuated for too long. Proportional representation and local representation are not mutually exclusive concepts.
Both STV and MMP maintain local representation while ensuring proportional outcomes. In STV, you elect multiple representatives from somewhat larger local districts. In MMP, you have both local representatives and top-up seats to ensure proportionality.
What Canadians actually want is for their votes to matter. Under FPTP, millions of perfectly valid ballots have zero effect on representation.
The question isn’t whether we should have local representation or proportionality - we can and should have both. The question is whether we believe in a democracy where every vote counts, or whether we’re content with a system that systematically discards votes.
Like it or not, the average Canadian would rather their representative be chosen by local votes, not based on national proportions. I’m not saying it’s ideal, I’m saying it’s realistic.
This is a false dichotomy that has been perpetuated for too long. Proportional representation and local representation are not mutually exclusive concepts.
Both STV and MMP maintain local representation while ensuring proportional outcomes. In STV, you elect multiple representatives from somewhat larger local districts. In MMP, you have both local representatives and top-up seats to ensure proportionality.
The evidence doesn’t support the claim about what “average Canadians” want either. Recent polls show that 76% of Canadians support electoral reform and over 60% of Ontarians specifically support proportional representation.
What Canadians actually want is for their votes to matter. Under FPTP, millions of perfectly valid ballots have zero effect on representation.
The question isn’t whether we should have local representation or proportionality - we can and should have both. The question is whether we believe in a democracy where every vote counts, or whether we’re content with a system that systematically discards votes.