An all-party committee of seven MPs has produced a report recommending a referendum to see if citizens want a Parliament that is elected by a proportional voting system. Such an electoral scheme would potentially elect dozens of MPs from one-issue or special interest parties. The outcome is frequently called a “pizza parliament” after Italy’s proportional legislature. The committee is recommending the government adopt a mixed system in which some MPs would be elected from electoral districts, as they are now, and some would gain office based on the proportion of the popular vote gained by their party.
LIBERALS NOT INTERESTED?
There is no reason to think the Trudeau government is ready for any of this. After campaigning on election reform last year, the prime minister and other cabinet members have talked down such change. Any referendum would inspire fierce division. Those who support proportional voting say it is more democratic. Those opposed say it tends to make the major parties less inclusive and can also produce a parliament in which there are so many voices that there is no accountability. In the extreme, it is possible for radical or nuisance parties to gain a seat in Parliament.
DEFINE DEMOCRACY
The issue is important for parties which typically lose. Their complaint raises the question of what responsibility the country has to see they win. Others reply that the idea everyone can win an election is irresponsible. For those who care to think about it, the matter requires a clear definition of what we mean by democracy. The conventional notion, reached without a lot of discussion, has concluded that democracy means a pizza parliament. But it need not. Canadian Press
