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More on Proportional Representation

With each passing election, the issue of Proportional Representation (PR) gains more attention in the mainstream media as a path Canada could take, to update its democratic process and reflect the reality that we have more than two political parties. Our present system of first-past-the-post is antiquated. It was inherited from Britain over 200 years ago, and leads to a distortion between actual votes and seats, often giving parties majorities in Parliament with a minority of the vote.

For those people who think that you need to be a 'mathematical genius' to understand PR, this article from the Toronto Star sheds some light on this issue. At least the debate is gaining momentum, which is somewhat encouraging to those of us who support Electoral Reform - PR.

Here are a few lines excerpted from the Star article:

There are hundreds of versions of PR. In Canada, the most oft-proposed one is the mixed member system.

This would continue the current system of electing one candidate to represent each riding, but would add the element of proportionality: a separate vote for a party.

There would be two results: the MPs who win their ridings, and the percentage of the popular vote each party receives. "A seat for the nobodies

posted by Annamarie at 7:10 PM