The current lack of a coherent government in Ottawa is largely the result of Canada’s unfair electoral system which heavily benefits regionally focused parties over ones with distributed national support. The fact is that only around 40% of the votes are needed for a majority government. This is partly why fewer and fewer Canadians vote each year, they know their votes are not contributing to the makeup of parliament. The current run of minority governments shows no sign of ending so this is the perfect time for one of the parties to step forward in favour of a bold, comprehensive look at Canadian democracy and how to fix it.

The Liberal party would be the most dramatic and effective source for this push. It would distinguish the Liberals from the Conservatives and rally disenfranchised voters from across the political spectrum who know that such change will never come from the Conservative party. Conservative voters in urban areas are just as handicapped electorally as Liberals in Alberta, the NDP in Quebec and the Greens everywhere. This could be a unifying, non-partisan issue that could rally Canadians to believe change is possible.

But to be effective it needs to come from an unlikely voice that is doing it because they believe fairness is the most important concept in our democracy rather than because their party will benefit from a new system.

Michael Ignatieff, you can be that voice.
We demand you to promise, now, to support bill C-267 will would create a committee to study proportional representation in consultation with Canadians.