OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor ([email protected]) This letter is regarding voter turnout in the recent federal election.
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This letter is in response to the recent OrilliaMatters story on dismal voter turnout (59%).
As we lick our wounds from the recent federal election, where almost half the eligible voters in Canada did not vote, we can look to other democracies for a better model of voting and a cure to dismal voter turnout.
Prime Minister Trudeau promised that the 2015 federal election would be the last using the First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system — a system designed for two parties, when we now have more than five.
Trudeau knows it is not a fair system, but the desire for a majority (which can, under FPTP, come from less than 40% of votes) and 100% of the power up to now has been too great for him and other federal and provincial political leaders.
When Canadians vote for a local representative who is not elected, their vote for a different platform and party is then lost. If this happens again and again — as it does in ridings all over this country — it is not surprising that voters eventually decide that casting a ballot is a waste of time and effort.
Obviously, many Canadians feel that their vote does not count. This leads to apathy, dissatisfaction and, finally, a decision to not bother voting. These characteristics appear strong among younger and more disadvantaged voters.
Even the larger parties should be aware of the risks of our out-dated system. In this 2021 election the Conservatives received more of the popular vote, but, because of our distorted system, got only 119 seats to the Liberals 160.
The largest voting block in Canada was the group that did not vote at al l— about 41%.
Canada could, and should, introduce a voting system that inspires and encourages voting, a system where every vote counts. Almost every other democracy — about 100 around the globe — has designed its own proportional voting system.
Canada can design a unique system to suit our geography and population.
Make Every Vote Count, a multi-party group in Simcoe County, has been advocating for electoral reform with the goal of adopting a proportional system since 2012.
Fair Vote Canada is calling for a National Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform to be convened in Canada. The dismal voter turnout for the recent Canadian election clearly indicates that the time is right for a Citizens’ Assembly to recommend a new voting system for Canada.
Now is the time to act- join Fair Vote Canada at https://www.fairvote.ca/ and if interested in an upcoming MEVC event on electoral reform contact us at [email protected].
Fred Larsen and Valerie Powell
On behalf of Make Every Vote Count - Simcoe County
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