Democracy is failing voters

The first past the post voting system that Canada currently uses results in bogus majorities and bogus mandates. 

Since World War 1, Canada has had 17 “majority” governments. In all 17 elections, one party held a majority of seats and exercised 100 percent of the power. But just four of these 17 actually won a majority of the popular vote. It is getting much worse, since the mid 1960s, Canada has had 8 “majority” governments, with only one supported by a majority of the voters. In 1997, the Liberals formed a “majority” government with just 38 percent of the popular vote. In 2011, the Conservatives formed a “majority” government with only 39.6 percent of the popular vote. 

Isn’t it time we switched to a form of proportional representation so all Canadian citizens are represented in government? Isn’t it time we adopted a voting system that gives voters equal rights and creates legitimate majority governments? 

Isn’t it time to get rid of first past the post and adopt proportional representation so that politicians are accountable to voters?

Jane Weixl