Adopt proportional representation

AI summary

Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to adopt a proportional‑representation electoral system before the next federal election. The government responds it will not make major electoral changes without broad public support.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled Whereas Canada's current, "First-Past-the-Post", electoral system: • Often leads to false majorities, where a party with less than 50% of the popular vote forms government; • Can discourage Canadians from voting because they feel their voices are not heard and their views are not represented; • Favours a two-party system that rewards unhealthy partisanship; • Leads voters to feel they must vote strategically for a party that doesn't represent their political preferences because they fear 'splitting their vote' would aid a political party they oppose; • Can leave some whole Provinces feeling that they do not have representation, which fractures national unity; Electoral systems designed around proportional representation: • Ensure that all votes, wherever they are cast, contribute equally to the election result, and reflect the diversity of political views held by Canadians; • Increase voter turnout through greater voter influence on the outcome; • Require political parties to share power more often, disincentivizing polarizing rhetoric; • Have already been adopted in most countries that rank highly on democracy indices, including Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to acknowledge that our current First-Past-The-Post electoral system is outdated and implement a proportional-representation electoral system before the next federal election.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Signed by Kevin Lamoureux Canada’s democracy is amongst the strongest and most stable in the world. Our electoral system (i.e., the fundamental rules determining how votes are translated into seats in the House of Commons) is one of the most foundational pieces of our democracy. Among many things, it provides Canadians with a direct connection to their Members of Parliament (MP), who must work with each other in developing national policy and making political decisions, while engaging and remaining accountable to their constituents. Canada’s electoral system is not perfect – no system is – but it has served our country well – with its unique identity, history and geography – for over 150 years, and continues to advance the core democratic values that Canadians want reflected in their system of government. This includes strong local representation, stability and accountability. How Canadians vote and how we govern ourselves is fundamentally important and impacts us all. Given this, any major reforms to the electoral system should not be considered without the broadest of support from Canadians. Moreover, during the 45th general election in 2025, Canadians made their priorities for this Government very clear by voting in record numbers. Close to 20 million Canadians cast a ballot, with a voter turnout rate of over 69%, the highest it has been in more than thirty years. In casting their ballots, Canadians gave the Government a clear mandate to prioritize a new economic and security relationship with the United States, build the strongest economy in the G7, reduce the cost of living and keep communities safe. Working closely with Parliamentarians, provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples, these are the areas in which the Government is focusing its efforts. In a healthy democracy, there is always more work to do, but Canadians have many reasons to be proud of their electoral system. The Government of Canada will continue to work to strengthen and protect our democratic practices and institutions to ensure they remain true to Canadian values.