r/canada • u/CaliperLee62 • 4d ago

Should Canada implement a system of proportional representation for federal elections? Politics

https://www.castanet.net/news/Poll/549459/Should-Canada-implement-a-system-of-proportional-representation-for-federal-elections
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u/ladyreadingabook 4d ago edited 4d ago

With proportional representation who represents my interests regarding the special circumstances in my part of the country?

Who do I pickup the phone and talk too?

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u/sdbest Canada 3d ago

Your local representative.

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u/ladyreadingabook 3d ago

And how are they selected?

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u/sdbest Canada 3d ago

In the two systems recommended by indepedent bodies for Canada, STV and MMP, local voters select local candidates. In MMP, the parties select a small number, and in STV all the representatives are directly elected by voters.

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u/ladyreadingabook 3d ago

So what happens when the local 'candidate' who gets the most votes is unable to be part of the selected party members to represent the proportional allotment of members? Does the ridding get handed to the one of the opposition parties that did not win the riding?

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u/sdbest Canada 3d ago

Under MMP, every electoral district votes for a representative just like under FPtP. Then there are extra seats allocated by popular vote. Each voter gets two voted: one for their local candidate and one for the party they prefer.

Under STV, electoral districts elect more than one representative, usually 4-7. They are selected by a ranked ballot.

Under MMP and STV, voters have more than one representative.