canada
For decades, academics and political leaders have analyzed existing electoral systems and, consequently, argued about the optimal way to translate votes into seats in the most democratic fashion. Increasing legitimacy and democracy within an electoral system are often viewed as the foundation for reform, and recent years have seen a growing number of Canadians questioning the legitimacy of Canada's first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system and the fashion in which it regionalizes political party representation in Parliament. Canada's electoral system provides the strengths of a stable, majority government with a direct link between representatives and electors. However, its strengths are often counteracted with its numerous weaknesses, including the encouragement of regional divisions and the distortion of seat allocation in election outcomes. Quebec in the 1980's saw Canada's only experience with electoral reform, from which much can be learned about the coordinated efforts necessary for reform to take place. After assessing Canada's FPTP system and its leading alternative, proportional representation (PR), mixed member proportional (MMP) under PR can be seen as a viable al
While the FPTP system has produced many majority governments in Canada, representation in Parliament has not served well. Although an accurate prediction cannot be made of Canadian success if MMP was adopted, New Zealand's decision to replace FPTP with MMP is comparable, and its success and failures should be considered when discussing reform proposals for Canada. In addition, by expanding the success of the provincial vote leader, the system ensures that party caucuses will over-represent any party's best province. Cabinet ultimately rejected the proposal in 1984, and the issue was dropped as an increased focus on Quebec's independence took precedence. MMP would provide Canadians with the benefits of PR as well as the advantage of constituency representation. The growing dissatisfaction by the Party Quebecois with its under-representation in the Quebec National Assembly led to the establishment of a Ministry of State for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform, with a mandate for the consideration of alternate electoral systems for Quebec. As parties begin to concentrate on the country as a whole as opposed to regions, they would begin to moderate the divisive elements of their platform and emphasize the unifying ones, reducing alienation. Between those years, support rose from 37. Improvement must be made to increase the rationality that legislators employ when assessing electoral reform, since perceptions are ultimately formed and developed through existing political institutions. Should discontent with Canada's electoral system eventually result in reform, past Canadian experience should be utilized to rectify previous mistakes. Insufficient coordinated efforts to educate the public, as well as the lack of a positive climate for public discussion due to division among caucus itself, resulted in an unresponsive public. Another factor for consideration is the lack of popular support the proposed reform received.
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Acceptance Essays
