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Renewing Democracy : Debating Electoral Reform in Canada

There is a growing perception that a "democratic malaise" has begun to characterize the political landscape in Canada and other parts of the world. While some people continue to work for improvements to existing government services and institutions, others have increasingly chosen to withdraw from participating in traditional political processes, including the voting system.

Whether through opinion polls citing discontent with various government institutions, or street protests against government policy decisions, there are more and more signs that many Canadians are disenchanted with traditional political processes; many say that they have lost confidence in their democratic institutions and do not believe that governments adequately reflect their democratic aspirations.

Citizens are demanding a more meaningful voice in government decision-making processes. Many citizens believe that it is time to consider reforming our democratic institutions.

Against this backdrop, the Law Commission of Canada has undertaken to examine reform of Canada's electoral system. Elections are the cornerstone of modern democracies. Voting in elections is the most direct involvement many Canadians will have with the political process. Clearly, the stakes are high. The election process determines who will form the government and, in turn, which policies will be pursued.

Many people suggest that our current voting system is problematic because a party can win a majority of the seats in Parliament or legislatures with only a minority of the popular vote. It has also been suggested that the current system is structured in a way that fails to represent the broad range of perspectives that characterize our country, and under-represents women, minority groups and Aboriginal people. The decline in voter turnout is yet another reason that is often provided for re-examining our voting system.

Given that elections represent such an important democratic event, it is not surprising that questions have been raised as to whether the current system adequately fits the Canadian political landscape. The Law Commission believes it is important to engage all Canadians in the debate about electoral reform. After all, open discussion of such an important component of Canadian political life is itself a way to maintain a healthy democracy.

This discussion paper is meant to stimulate debate on Canada's voting system. Is the current electoral system adequate or does it require changes? The paper begins with a brief historical examin-ation of the discontent that has been expressed with Canada's electoral system, followed by an outline of the strengths and limitations of Canada's current voting system. The discussion paper then looks at various ways in which we use voting in our lives, as well as some alternative voting systems used in other countries. Why do we have different voting systems for different circumstances? Can looking at alternative voting systems used in other parts of the world help us? Finally, this paper examines four values commonly associated with electoral systems. It asks whether Canada's current voting system adequately reflects these values or whether alternative voting systems might better reflect Canadians' values. The conclusion raises several questions concerning electoral reform in the Canadian context.

Canadian Democracy and Electoral Reform

The Law Commission recognizes that there is more to addressing concerns about our democratic processes and institutions than simply changing the way in which we vote. Changing the way in which we elect our representatives will only alter the way in which politicians arrive at the doors of Parliament or a legislature; it will not necessarily change the culture of our governments and their institutions, including political parties. This discussion paper focuses on reform of Canada's electoral system as a way of introducing the debate to Canadians. It recognizes, but does not focus on, other issues such as how political parties are financed, the impact of party discipline, the role played by party caucuses, the role of lobby or interest groups in influencing government policies, or how election campaigns are run, although these issues also raise important questions about democratic governance.

This paper discusses previous suggestions for electoral reform, and outlines the strengths and limitations of our current voting system. For many people, the current system has performed well in terms of establishing a clear line of accountability between an elected representative and his or her constituents. However, others suggest that Canada's current voting system is unfair because it helps produce disproportional results – in essence, a party can gain a majority of the seats in Parliament or legislatures with only a minority of the popular vote. At the same time, women, minority groups and Aboriginal people are under-represented in the current system. Finally, critics suggest the current voting system does not treat votes equally as those who do not vote for the individual who receives a plurality of the vote have essentially "wasted" their votes.

Voting and Democratic Participation

Casting a ballot in a provincial or federal election is not the only time in our lives that we are asked to vote. As citizens or members of a community, we might be asked to vote to elect the chair of a volunteer association or advocacy group. As members of a political party, we might be asked to vote for a party leader. As shareholders in a corporation, we are asked to elect a Board of Directors. In all of these circumstances, we are asked to elect representatives who will make decisions on our behalf. In many instances, we vote using a method that differs from the voting system that we are accustomed to using in provincial and federal elections. For example, some methods ensure the winning candidate receives a majority (more than 50 percent) of the vote. Why do we use different voting systems in different circumstances?

This chapter examines three alternative voting systems that are used in, or are being proposed for, other countries, as a basis for comparison with Canada's voting system. The Alternative Vote is used for various levels of elections in Australia; Mixed-Member Proportional voting is used in Germany and has recently been introduced in New Zealand; and Alternative Vote Plus was recently proposed for use in the United Kingdom. These are not the only alternatives to Canada's voting system, but they do provide examples of options Canadians might wish to consider. Why do other countries elect their representatives differently? What can be learned from these alternative voting systems?

Democratic Values and Electoral Systems

Deciding on an electoral system involves choosing between competing values. This discussion paper examines four values that have been used to evaluate electoral systems in modern democracies: fairness, representation, equality and accountability. Fairness refers to whether the voting system has any built-in or systemic biases. Representation is the ability of the system to broadly reflect the diversity of ideas, interests and perspectives that characterize a society and hence enrich debates in Parliament and legislatures. Representation of women, minority groups and Aboriginal people is also discussed. Equality refers to the common notion that "every vote counts," in contrast to the phenomenon of "wasted votes." Accountability refers to the ability of voters to clearly identify who is responsible for government decision-making and, if necessary, hold them responsible for their performance. Does the current voting system adequately reflect the values that Canadians would like to see represented in their voting system? If not, is there an alternative system that might better reflect these preferences?

A voting system that incorporates some form of proportional representation could address many of the concerns that have been expressed about Canada's current electoral system. For instance, a more proportional system might help produce results that better reflect the share of support that a party receives, while at the same time encouraging greater representation of women, minority groups and Aboriginal people. A proportional system might also help reduce the phenomenon of "wasted votes."

This discussion paper is only the beginning of a debate about electoral reform in Canada. It is critical that Canadians join in the discussion about their voting system and alternatives to ensure their needs and values are reflected, and to maintain a healthy democracy.