Currently, Canada's electoral system is based on a "first past the post" system. The candidate with the most votes in a riding wins a seat in the House of Commons and represents that riding as its Member of Parliament. The Governor General asks the Members of Parliament to form a government, which is normally the party whose candidates have won the most seats; that party's leader generally becomes Prime Minister. An absolute majority of the electorate is not needed, and is rarely achieved. As a result, power has been held by either of two parties for most of Canada's history. The party whose candidates win the second largest number of seats becomes the Official Opposition.
Statistics are shown for this demographic
Province/Territory
Electoral District (2013)
Electoral District (2011)
Response rates from 1.1m Canada voters.
52% Yes |
48% No |
52% Yes |
38% No |
9% No, keep the current “first past the post” system |
|
1% No, switch to an instant runoff system |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 1.1m Canada voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 1.1m Canada voters.
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Unique answers from Canada voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@9F5KMPV1yr1Y
Canada should become a republic and use the electoral college like the United States.
@4Q5YTY84yrs4Y
Do the United States system.
@9KGWSV29mos9MO
Nonparty Semi direct democracy would be best. Elected representatives. Referendums. Leader of the country is elected directly in a multi phase race. Provincial, regional and local representation is elected. If a clear majority isn’t achieved on any subject it triggers referendum.
@4HRLRNS4yrs4Y
It is bigoted to assume an individual will have different opinions based on skin colour or genitalia. It promotes segregation and should not be tolerated. Western countries are a melting pot and we should be proud of it.
@4PVMH9K4yrs4Y
A system like Germany or New Zealand would be a system for Canada
@4QSX27S4yrs4Y
How about we banish the feudal system once and for all?
@8V8LQD43yrs3Y
All votes should be counted and the party with the most votes after ALL have been counted should win.
@9QZCYDN4mos4MO
I think we should implement parts of it into our current system to make it more like a mixed-member compensatory system
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