Legislation
Canada can learn a thing or two from Scotland on electoral reform
By Zach Paikin Jan. 13, 2016
The mixed member system enhances grassroots democracy—the ability of the average citizen to participate in the democratic process on a day-to-day basis. What’s more, it ensures local representation and balances out regional interests both at the same time. Thus, it would fit the political requirements of a diverse, federal country such as Canada.
Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef is in charge of revamping Canada's electoral system from the first-past-the-post voting process. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Our national conversation on the question of electoral reform has, so far, largely been focused on the three major parties’ respective preferred alternatives: a ranked ballot, proportional representation (PR), or the status quo. Little attention has been paid to other, possibly more desirable options. Seeing as more complex systems—such as single transferable vote or mixed member proportional—have been rejected in past provincial referenda, perhaps we feel as if these options are less worthy of consideration or debate. I
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