Why Canada needs electoral reform — now more than ever
In April of this year, the Supreme Court of Canada denied leave to appeal a case brought by Fair Vote BC and others, which argued that Canada's first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The lower courts acknowledged that proportional representation would be a fair alternative, but ruled that the Constitution does not require it.
The legal system failed Canadians because the case for reform has never been stronger.
A system that wastes votes
Canada's electoral system is deeply flawed and profoundly undemocratic. In three of the past four federal elections, political parties formed government even though they won less than 50% of the popular vote.. In the fourth, the figure was close to 50%. Under Canada’s FPTP electoral system, a vote for a losing candidate carries no political weight.
A nation in which most votes don't count is not functioning as a democracy.
FPTP forces voters into a defensive crouch. Rather than voting for the candidate they actually support, many Canadians are pushed into strategic voting — picking the least-bad option to block someone worse. That isn't free expression. It's damage control.
The policy cost of a broken system
The consequences are not abstract. The majority of Canadians lean progressive, yet FPTP regularly produces governments that are less progressive than voters want. When people feel unrepresented, many tune out of politics altogether.
Most Canadians want stronger action on housing affordability, the climate crisis, income inequality, and a long list of other pressing challenges — yet our governments consistently fail to deliver policies that reflect this. The reason is structural: a voting system that distorts voter preferences, creating artificial majority governments that are not responsive.
This will not change unless we adopt a new way to run elections. Proportional representation will produce a government that reflects the share of votes each party actually receives. For example, if 25% of Canadians vote for the Green Party, it will hold one-quarter of the seats in Parliament.
What you can do
If this resonates with you, consider donating your time and/or financial support to Unlock Democracy. We are dedicated to educating the public about the flaws in our current electoral system, and advocating for a true democracy: one that treats every vote equally.
The courts have closed one door. The democratic one — the one we can walk through together — remains wide open.