How Might MMP Work In Canada?

Hi Wilf. I see you've been watching our site and I want to help out as well.

The fact that many Canadians don't know the first thing about PR is probably the most important thing to attack.

If a referendum were held today, polls show that the voters would be split almost 50/50 on the issue.


Your site is well done and easy to understand. I would like your opinion on how ridings work.

Would it not be better if ridings had roughly the same amount of voters, so the riding size wouldn't influence the outcome ?

I have read that in order for the NDP to get one seat they need some 111,000 votes, but for the Bloc to get one seat they need far fewer votes, as with the Libs and Cons.

Any comments on that ?



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"Arrogance in Politics is unacceptable"
Jim Callaghan
Minden, Ontario
705-286-1860
www.misterc.ca

An immediate reaction by many towards Canadians' "ignorance" of the electoral process, whether it be the FPTP system or some variation of PR, is to institute compulsory voting, such as is found in Australia. I would rather see some variation of the German process, in which certain public or State benefits and attached to the voting process. "Bribery" (or "incentive", the less harsh description), in other words the "carrot", works far better than the "stick", the more repressive "you MUST do this" approach.

The overall object of electoral change is to get more voters out. Had those 40% of Canadians who did not vote, voted, the chances are Parliament would have a vastly different composition than it now does, whether under FPTP or PR.

In a nutshell, appealing to Canadians' sense of duty or pride, has been the traditional approach, and it is not working. But "bribes" just might.

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RickW

Rick, you are right, the voters need a reason to get off the couch.

Also, they need to know the issues, and simply by enticing voters to cast a ballot for any other reason is asking for trouble.

Voters do not take enough time to look into all the issues before they vote, and that is something we cannot force them to do.

By all means, it would be nice if more people took the time to vote, but intelligently.

You can't legislate that.


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"Arrogance in Politics is unacceptable"
Jim Callaghan
Minden, Ontario
705-286-1860
www.misterc.ca