First Past the Post has played havoc with Canadian federal electionsEarlier this year, we wrote about Justin Trudeau’s regret at failing to deliver electoral reform during his near decade as Canada’s Prime Minister, despite first coming to power with a manifesto commitment to end First...Posted 24 Apr 2025
How Trudeau missed the opportunity for electoral reform in CanadaAt the beginning of 2025, the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced his decision to resign. He will stay in office until March 2025, when the Liberal Party selects a new leader, who will also...Posted 29 Jan 2025
Quebec’s 2022 election reveals error of not scrapping first past the postBack in 2018 we reported on the excitement in Quebec which was set for a move from First Past the Post (FPTP) to proportional representation, following a commitment from the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, to the...Posted 05 Oct 2022
How are the members of upper houses chosen around the world?Many countries use a bicameral political system – meaning that they have two chambers in their parliament. These parliaments are comprised of a lower house where the government is formed and day-to-day politics is carried...Posted 27 Jan 2022
First Past the Post has failed to give the most popular Canadian party the most seatsMinority government on 32% of the vote is one thing, but it is another when it isn’t even the most popular minority that gets to be in charge.Posted 22 Sep 2021
ERS in the Press – October 2020This month has seen a renewed interest in proportional representation internationally. Willie Sullivan backed up the case for a fairer voting system in Canada, drawing on his experience in Scotland. “If you want a system...Posted 29 Oct 2020
What can we learn from Canada’s Leaders’ Debate Commission?This election’s televised leaders debates have taken place against a backdrop of endless rows over who should be allowed to take part, in what has become a recurring feature of our election campaigns. Arguments over...Posted 04 Dec 2019
Canada’s election: Last call for First Past the Post?It looks like Justin Trudeau has narrowly secured his second term as Canada’s Prime Minister. But his party lost out on a majority of seats as well as the popular vote. It was a tough...Posted 23 Oct 2019
Ontario and Québec look towards electoral reformWe’ve covered the exciting moves towards fair votes in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island – two Canadian provinces looking to ditch the broken ‘Westminster model’. But the usefulness of First Past the Post has...Posted 29 Oct 2018
Voting opens in British Columbian electoral reform referendumAttempts at electoral reform in British Columbia (B.C.) – Canada’s westernmost and third most populous province – date back more than 13 years. On Monday, voting opens on whether to scrap the all-or-nothing voting system...Posted 22 Oct 2018