​One must ask if Canada’s political future is inextricably linked to a two-party system dictated by binary choices in a handful of swing seats.

Proportional representation would break that system, enabling broad multi-party collaboration and consensus.

First-past-the-post lets politicians with disproportionate power treat cities like toys.

Bill 100 escalates this by letting provincial appointees overrule elected councils.

Proportional representation would end minority rule and ensure broad consensus on municipal governance.

A social media post from John Rustad (@JohnRustad4BC) regarding the 2024 election. The text reads: ​BC United secretly funded the fake “firejohnrustad.ca” website and pamphlets in the final weeks of the 2024 campaign. ​They lied, pretended it was from “disgruntled Conservatives,” and actively worked to elect the NDP by sabotaging us while pretending to unite. This dirty trick suppressed turnout when we were just ONE seat short of forming government, we lost Surrey-Guildford by only 22 votes, with multiple ridings decided by dozens.

This raises the question, should 22 votes in one seat be all that separates one party taking power with 40% of the vote vs another?

Proportional representation would end the focus on swing seats and make every voter, regardless of location, matter equally in every election.

Duverger's Law states winner-take-all systems create a two-party duopoly, where a few swing seats decide outcomes while other areas are ignored.

Proportional representation breaks this duopoly and promotes multiple voices, ensuring real choice and forcing genuine competition.

Two-party politics prioritizes flipping MPs to secure a majority over finding common ground.

Proportional representation allows multi-party cooperation: members can join parties they truly align with instead of jumping between the same two, then work together to build consensus.

A screenshot of a tweet from CTV News Vancouver. The text reads: BC United was secretly behind website calling for Rustad to be fired: Elections BC. Below the text is a truncated link to a ctvnews.ca article.

Under first-past-the-post, BC United and Conservatives were forced into a zero-sum fight for the same seats.

That lead to dirty tricks and backroom deals that ultimately the total demise of BCU.

Proportional representation would have allowed both to run openly and cooperate on shared values.

A graphic featuring a yellow header with "THE TYEE" in black bold text. The headline below reads "BC Government Accused of a Stealth Attack on Freedom of Information," followed by a subheader about advocates warning against a new bill.

Freedom of Information laws are vital for accountability.

Yet, first-past-the-post lets politicians without a broad mandate gut them when they become inconvenient.

Proportional representation protects these rules by ensuring they can't be changed without broad consensus.

Proportional representation makes gerrymandering harder because seats are won through broad support rather than swing ridings, making boundary shifts less effective.

Since map changes require multi-party consensus, no single party can rig the lines to their own advantage.

Nazis were frustrated by PR because they couldn't win a majority. Hitler only took power after a backroom deal with President Hindenburg bypassed the legislature. PR was actually the barrier.

No system keeps out the far-right, Reform UK are on track for a majority with 28%. PR forces moderation.

Floor-crossing itself isn't the problem; it's the lopsided incentive in first-past-the-post.

When a party is a few seats from a majority, poaching an MP becomes a shortcut to a majority.

PR diminishes that incentive, ensuring power is earned through broad consensus.

Floor-crossing is a byproduct of a system where a handful of seats can turn a disproportionate minority into a majority.

Proportional representation removes that shortcut. When power requires genuine cooperation, the focus shifts from poaching MPs to building consensus.

Screenshot of a CTV News Calgary post (@CTVCagary) with the headline: “Progressive Tory Party of Alberta launches at BMO Centre in Calgary,” along with a link preview to the article.

First-past-the-post means it’s not enough to win votes, you need them in the right seats.

That’s why new parties struggle.

Proportional representation fixes this. Seats match votes, so new movements can win seats.

Screenshot of a tweet from Toronto Star (@TorontoStar). The tweet reads: “Doug Ford praises Mark Carney and appeals for a majority Liberal government ahead of byelections” followed by a shortened link.

Doug Ford used a 40% vote share to win a majority, exempt himself from Freedom of Information rules, and preside over major spending scandals while healthcare, education, and housing declined.

If he says that system works, that’s exactly why we need proportional representation.

The two main systems we recommend are Single Transferable Vote (STV) and Mixed Member Proportional (MMP): www.fairvote.ca/introprsyste...

Screenshot of a tweet from the Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) with a verified checkmark. The tweet reads: “Provincial governments are acting like schoolyard bullies. It’s time for voters to take a stand | #Opinion” followed by a shortened link.

First-past-the-post lets politicians win control with 40% of the vote, making it easier to override opposition and push through unpopular decisions with little oversight.

Proportional representation requires a broad majority, so politicians face real consequences for overreach.

Electoral maps make Alberta look almost all Conservative and Toronto almost all Liberal.

In reality, hundreds of thousands vote otherwise but get no seats. First-past-the-post erases them.

Proportional representation means every vote counts and every voter has a voice.

First-past-the-post means independent redistricting only works until politicians with disproportionate power ignore it.

Will @naheednenshi.bsky.social and the @albertandp.ca commit to proportional representation and make gerrymandering a thing of the past, where seats reflect votes, not map lines?

Great fun with Roberta Tevlin this morning!
A Fair Electoral System for Ontario should be a priority for all voters; and every @ontarioliberal.bsky.social leadership candidate #onpoli @fairvote.ca @notoneseat.bsky.social @ericgrenier.bsky.social @torontorabit.bsky.social @ontariondp.bsky.social

Screenshot of a tweet by Siobhan Morris (@siomoCTV) that reads: “NEW: The Ontario NDP's Opposition Day motion to reverse changes to OSAP fails by a vote of 40 to 60.”

A reminder that, under first-past-the-post, the 60 MPPs who voted no represent only 40% of voters, while the 40 MPPs who voted yes represent 60% of voters.

Canada needs proportional representation.

Screenshot of a Toronto Star tweet showing the outlet name and handle @TorontoStar with a verified checkmark. The headline reads: “Pierre Poilievre says he would cancel high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City,” followed by a shortened link.

High speed rail is a classic example of first-past-the-post policy whiplash.

Governments elected with 40% or less furiously undo previous projects, so nothing gets built.

Proportional representation incentivises broad consensus and stable, long term planning.

Screenshot of a CTV News tweet from CTV National News (@CTVNationalNews) with the headline, “Diverse opinions welcome after MLA supports separatist petition: Danielle Smith,” and a link to a CTV News Edmonton article.

First-past-the-post forces the Albertan right into one party, even if that included separatists.

Break off? Unless you win the right votes in the right seats, you get nothing.

Proportional representation means you wouldn’t have to be in the same party to be represented.

Proportional representation makes partisan gerrymandering much harder since every vote counts toward seats.

The @albertandp.ca dropped PR months before their 2015 win. If they had passed it, this would be a non-issue today.

We urge @naheednenshi.bsky.social and the party to push for change.

Screenshot of a tweet by Rob Shaw (@RobShaw_BC) reporting that @yuri_fulmer has announced a deal with OneBC leader @Dallas_Brodie. The deal says that if Fulmer wins the BC Conservative leadership, OneBC will not run candidates in 88 or 93 ridings, and Conservatives will not run in 5 ridings to help OneBC, alongside a confidence and supply agreement.

First-past-the-post forces parties into non-compete deals like this or unstable big-tent mergers to stay competitive.

Proportional representation lets voices across the political spectrum campaign independently, giving voters a real choice.

Screenshot of a CP24 tweet reporting that the opposition fears Doug Ford’s omnibus budget bill will be fast tracked into law, with a link to a CP24 politics article.

Under first-past-the-post, politicians use disproportionate majorities built on safe seats and swing ridings to pass massive omnibus bills, bundling unrelated policies into one vote and limiting scrutiny.

Proportional representation ensures broader consensus and accountability.

Screenshot of a Toronto Star tweet. The tweet reads: “Update: Saskatchewan and Alberta NDP opposition leaders Carla Beck and Naheed Nenshi are already taking aim at new federal leader Avi Lewis. #cdnpoli” A shortened link is included. The Toronto Star logo and verified checkmark appear beside the account name.

Under first-past-the-post, Western NDP parties have to represent the entire centre-to-left spectrum to stay competitive.

That pressure fuels internal conflicts.

Proportional representation creates room for different voices to campaign separately and collaborate in the open.

A portrait of Avi Lewis wearing glasses and a dark blue shirt, smiling slightly with his hands resting in front of him. Beside him is a quote that reads: “Under my leadership, the next time the NDP holds the balance of power in Parliament, we’ll have one demand: proportional representation.” The quote is attributed to Avi Lewis, Jan 11, 2026.

Congratulations to Avi Lewis on being elected federal NDP leader!

He consistently said proportional representation would be his one demand in a minority government.

We look forward to working with him and any politicians who believe in a better democracy to make this happen.

Screenshot of a Toronto Star headline reading “Liberals to debate use of ‘nuclear option’ against notwithstanding clause.” Subheading notes some Liberals are considering using disallowance to invalidate provincial laws.

Whether it's disallowance or the notwithstanding clause, first-past-the-post puts “nuclear options” in the hands of politicians who don't represent large parts of the country.

Proportional representation adds a vital check by requiring broad consensus before these can be used.

Good news to see the NDP 100% on favour of this essential change

A screenshot of a tweet by Mark Ramzy stating that all five NDP leadership candidates are standing together in support of electoral reform and proportional representation. Below the text is a photo of a group of people on a stage, including several candidates standing behind a microphone with a sign reading 4 PRO. The group appears united and facing forward during a public event, with audience members visible in the background.

Fantastic to see this unity around proportional representation. When leaders agree the system is broken, it is time to fix it.

First-past-the-post hands total power to parties that dominate a few regions and swing ridings. It's time to make every vote and every region count.

No system stops parties like AfD from existing. The question is power.

Proportional representation limits them to their actual support.

First-past-the-post can hand full control to a party like Reform UK is currentlyon track for with ~30% of the vote.