Canadian Electoral System

Document Type:Research Paper

Subject Area:Politics

Document 1

They argue that this system will give party leaders extraordinary reward powers thus the candidates will be serving their political parties instead of the Canadians (Barnes, Dara and Erin 13). On the other hand, it is recommended that MMP is the most feasible solution to the pitfalls associated with the current Canadian electoral system since MMP is anticipated to exhibit high degree of proportionality in the electoral process and present effect of political choice for the Canadians (Croci 1). Additionally, the model will foster political equality because all political parties will be put in the level competing arena and give Canadian voters a more authentically free choice at the ballot box (Croci 1). In such perspective, MMP will enhance political democracy while addressing the pitfalls of the current SMP system. MMP will enhance democracy in Canada.

Sign up to view the full document!

Unlike to this system, the MMP offers electors an opportunity to vote for their choice of candidate for the regional state. For this reason, citizens will examine candidates depending on their credibility and suitability instead of their age, gender or party influence (Croci 1). Also, MMP will add more MPs to certain ridings which will improve the number of women in the Canadian politics. The current system discourages voter turnout. The SMP strategy of the winner-taking-all nature of election coupled with the arbitrary influence of geography ensures that the voters who vote for the unsuccessful contenders efficiently waste their votes because their votes do not influence the final allocation of seats to the parties (Pammett and Lawrence 13). Coalition or minority governments will help the Canadian politics to transform since the ideation will promote contemplative and consensual pedagogy to the formulation of the public policies as it is impossible for one party to impose its will in this system (Elsewhere 16).

Sign up to view the full document!

Also, the bi-or multi-partisan government is vital in addressing the contemporary complexities associated with policies the government is approaching. To illustrate, German and Sweden are using the MMP system specifically the PR strategy. It is no coincidence that parliaments of these countries play a more significant role in the legislative process as compared to the Canadian parliament. In contradiction, the current Canadian’s electoral system vests excessive political and administrative powers in the hands of the manufactured majority regimes primarily elected on the plurality of 40% or less of the plurality votes (Elsewhere 16). Local ridings will broaden to create room for the additional seats which will ensure that Canadians will have more than one representative they can discuss policy issues or turn in for support. To illustrate, the system guarantees voters two aspects for better local representation: a local member of parliament who will champion their region accountable for the local votes and an MP whose perspectives reflect people’s preferences.

Sign up to view the full document!

In addition to the public trust, the MMP system fosters faithfully transmission of votes cast into seats won thus avoiding some of the unfair and destabilizing results presented by the plurality or the majority electoral system. The MMP system will help the Canadian political system minimize the seat bonuses allocated to the more substantial parties (Leemann and Isabela 462). Subsequently, the country will experience the formation of political groups or parties of like-minded contenders with societies precisely when there is no established party system. Drawing from the illustration presented in this paragraph is inarguable that MMP fosters independent representations hence refuting the claims that this system enhances overreliance on political organizations. In conclusions, the instances and explanations presented in the paper support the stance that it is necessary to transform the Canadian electoral system from Plurality to mixed member proportional representation.

Sign up to view the full document!

This electoral transformation will foster an increase in the voter turnout, democracy, create equality in the country’s presentation, increase public trust and present a breeding ground for the minority governments. Even though the system is speculated to give party leaders excessive power which may negatively influence other leaders, the aspects of this system will present an arena to solve the current electoral complication caused by the SMP methods. Therefore, the Canadian policymakers need to implement the MMP model to make sure that the Canadians benefit from the remuneration other citizens in German and Sweden enjoy in their electoral processes. and Lawrence LeDuc.  Explaining the turnout decline in Canadian federal elections: A new survey of non-voters. Ottawa: Elections Canada, 2003. Pilon, Dennis. The Politics of Voting, Reforming Canada’s Electoral System.

Sign up to view the full document!

From $10 to earn access

Only on Studyloop

Original template

Downloadable