Of great debate in Canada and particularly British Columbia is the way we elect our government representatives and how our vote is counted. This debate has even progressed to the point of British Columbians voting in a referendum regarding changing from the first-past-the -post system to the Single Transferable Vote during our last provincial election in May, 2009. (It was defeated with only 39% of the voters voting in favour of it.) (for more on the single Transferable Vote and what it is click here.
We have examined some of the pros and cons of our current system and what some of the alternatives are so I want to here from you.
Comment on what system you think is the best. Should we try something new? Is the problem really in how our votes are counted or in the fact that so few people actually vote? How do you think we can fix our system so our government actually represents the people? (If you need to refresh your memory refer to your Counterpoints textbook pages 253-255.)
29 comments:
I think our sestem is flawd. It would be better if our system had been more like the French or Americain system. There are to many parties in canadian politics, and because of that there should be a free vote (all the time) or we shaould have less parties
Z.K.
Honestly, i think that the votins system fails so dramatically because of how few people vote, i also believe that the system needs to be changed. Not necessarily to one of the other options but something new that will work. aka. each city votes in each province votes a man to a provincial parliament, and each provincial group votes one or two people to federal. if a person has a minority vote. then the person with the least amount of votes is removed from the voting, and a second vote is made. so the most accurate representation is shown.
G.O.B
I think our political system could be changed for the better. It would be better if the nation voted for a party leader and the one with the most votes becomes PM. It's not fair that the Green party gets a lot of votes but no seats in Parliament.
L.J.
I think that our voting system shold be the same as the system as the one in the United States. Its easier and its better.
i think the first past the post is better because then people are able to get together and who ever is the one that can get more people on their side deserves to be the winner
jh
since our populations are to big to have a direct vote from the majority we could set up voting booths in each city then send them to the head of province and then to the direct Gov. that way we would have representation by population except the people who didnt vote which basically sounds like the system we have now with some change S.M
I personally believe that all of canadians should have to vote for one person. If you do not vote for anyone you will be handed a fine of some sort. I also believe we should have a ranking system. We should do one vote for all candidates. Then we would take the two top runners and do another vote with just those two on the ballot. This would usually make someone have over 50% of the votes. Making them a majority government.
S.P
I think that people should have to vote and that way you can vote for who you want and you will actually take the time to think about it. I think that people should vote individually and not for a certain party. Voting for one person will change the way we look at things and we will see what that person actually stands for instead of them playing games with different parties.
I think we need a government that puts education and people first. We wouldn't have a civilization to vote if we didnt put the people first and educate them.
People that don't vote should be fined or people that do vote should win a prize. The more people that vote the more variety we will have and that way we can have an election that is more fair.
KS
I believe we should use the proportinal representation rather than first-past-the post system. Then it wouldnt depend as much on how many people vote. Things would be fair and no dealing could be done.
A.O.
It's pathetic on how our government is runned. Frankly I think the entire ridings per province should be abolished. Instead we should just vote and ridings are given for overall votes. With this, then more people would vote since every vote is counted instead of just for region. The turn-outs would increase and we would get greater results towards our government.
-JL-
i think we should vote for one specific person to run our country instead of the party leaders. Most of the nation doesnt even vote for the person they want running there country
T,W
i think we should vote for one specific person to run our country instead of the party leaders. Most of the nation doesnt even vote for the person they want running there country
T,W
I think we should give up the past the post system and start the proportional representation, its fair and it will reperesent who the people vote for better, '
KRR
I think that Canada should have a manditory vote because then people don't complain that the government is not the way that everyone wants it to be. I think that there should be a fine if you don't vote because it would make people want to vote. I think that a ranking for the vote would also benifit everyone, because if you think a party should not make it then you can rank them last instead of just not voting for them. I think this would make voting more appealing to Canadians. Then Canadians would also like the government and laws that they make alot more then they do now.
KIR
Personally i think we should be able to have a group party and not just one guy who we choose to be candidate, because
i like the first past the vote idea better beacause if one person can get enough ppl to agree with them and vote for them they should be the winner. it seems that, that would be a good idea because obviously people would trust the elected if they voted for the person rather than themselves.
N.Y.
I think that the first-past-the-post system is fair. but it would work better if the majority won. And maditory voting could help solve that problem. But it would also cause more problems if there was maditory voting with fines and things. the system now seems pretty fair and people shouldn't really complain cause no matter what you change the voting to people will always complain!
TS
Personally i think we should be able to have a group party and not just one guy who we choose to be candidate, because it would be better to have agreement.
K.F.
i think the system is not fair because the green party had some votes and were not aloud any seats because they might have some valid points in changing the enviroment. I also think that it should be simplier just voting for a party leader than having a person come but at the same time i agree electing someone in the region to present our ideas. My overal opinion is it should just stay the the same but give some seats to the green party
K.K.
Our system sure has some glitches that could be fixed for the better but really it's not that bad. Sure, we have way to many parties and some of those parties that do get votes don't get seats but you think that would change if more people voted. If more "younger voters" actually voted i think the government would be different. I don't think i have a right to knock our government until i'm able to vote and have voted.
A.h.
i think instead of havin the first-past-the-post system we should have the proportional representative because it should be based on what party gets the most votes not just the one candidate
hh
I prefer the government system we have in Switzerland. We can also elect our representatives for the parliament but to get a seat you must have more than 50% of all the votes. In Canada only a few people vote which is also a problem. It would may help to get more people to vote.
SG
i think that the more people that vote , the more succesful our government would be.
i think its a good thing that only people over 18 are alowed to vote cause thehy know what there saying kinda, where as people who are like 16 probably wouldnt take it seriously, or just joke around.
i dont really think it matters about government right now.
well it matters but not to me really cause ive never actually thought about it.
i think whatever people that win should be the party that says kids should only have to have their n for liek a year cause i dont think thers a point in having it for 2 years.
kpowell
The political system of canada is fine with me, but we should limit the amount of registered parties to no more then 5. With the mass amounts of political parties out there, there are thousands of wasted votes every election. In my opinion the Liberals, NDP, Conservatives, Green Party, and Bloc Quebecois represent the Canadian people well enough without all the 3rd class parties.
B.M.K.
I think if everybody voted that our voting system would be more succesful. I believe that our first past idea is way better. Obviously we cant have a voting system that is going to please absolutely everybody, thats impossible. But i think we can have one that would please more people. a system that would appeal better to people so majority of population actually votes. i really do not have any idea of a better system in mind. but there is one out there.
TDW
the fact people dont vote makes a big difference, because without everyones votes, the chances of different parties winning are limited. Our system is at least guarenteed one spot and has a representative. with the P.R system we could be the area where a person is not selected. So both have its pros and cons. I think at least with the way it is set up now we are better off, and our opinions can be shared.
DG
Changes should be made in the voting system. Personally I was confused by the current voting system, I believe that whoever wins should win because they have the most votes not because their party or other people in their party win, this just makes people not want to vote because some believe that no matter who they vote for they don't feel like they are going to be heard.
i wrote the previous comment.
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