Canadian youth call for electoral change
28-Apr-2009CALGARY – Western Canada’s post-secondary students say that it’s time for Canadians to change the way we elect our leaders.
The 2008 Canada West Foundation Student Essay Contest asked students at western post-secondary institutions “should Canadians switch to a system of proportional representation?” The winning undergraduate and graduate entries each support adopting proportional representation, in which seats in Parliament are based on the percentage of the popular vote instead of the current “first-past-the-post” system.
“Proportional representation is an old idea but one that has not gained any real traction in Canada,” says Canada West Foundation Director of Research Robert Roach. “As part of our drive to connect with the West’s youth, we asked western students what they thought of the concept. Most were in favour and made compelling arguments to backup their opinion.”
University of British Columbia student Brian Baker argues in the winning undergraduate essay that the current electoral system impedes rather than supports the rich diversity of Canada. Matthew Sharp of Simon Fraser University proposes in his winning graduate essay a hybrid of the two methods that would allow for the greater range of representation provided by proportional representation without completely changing our traditional electoral system. Undergraduate runner-up Luke Freeman of Simon Fraser University uses international examples such as New Zealand, Ireland and Germany as proof that proportional representation can and does lead to higher voter turnout and increased representation of women and minorities.
Not all of the top entrants supported proportional representation. Graduate runner-up Michael Kulicki of the University of Alberta argues against the belief that the current electoral system is in some way unfair: he says the Canadian system of representational democracy is built on the belief that you can be represented by someone you disagree with, a belief at odds with the assertion that you can only be represented by “your” candidate.
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Jamie Leong-Huxley
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Canada West Foundation
403-700-9535
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