I appreciate your perspective. While “critical” might sound strong, I’d argue that proportional representation isn’t just an improvement but a democratic necessity, especially looking at our trajectory.

Duverger’s Law shows that winner-take-all systems inevitably push toward two-party dominance over time. Canada’s effective number of parties has been declining (2.76 in 2021), suggesting we’re slowly following America’s path toward polarized two-party politics.

Our democracy may seem stronger than America’s today, but the same structural flaw exists in our electoral system. The difference is largely one of timing, not fundamentals.

The consequences of inaction are significant. Without PR, we’re seeing:

• Millions of votes that have zero effect on election outcomes
• Policy lurch where each government undoes the work of the previous one
• Regional polarization as parties focus only on competitive ridings
• Declining trust in democratic institutions

You’re right to worry. The safeguards we need require actual structural reform, not just hoping our political culture stays healthier than America’s. That’s why I see PR as fundamental rather than just beneficial - it addresses the root cause rather than symptoms.