FVC releases Ontario "Dubious Democracy Report" (Nov. 25, 2004)
November 25, 2004
NEWS -- Fair Vote Canada ˇV November 25, 2004
Fair Vote Canada releases ˇDubious Democracy Reportˇ" on Ontario elections from 1980 ˇV 2003
An overview of Ontario election data from 1980 to 2003, released today by the Fair Vote Ontario campaign of Fair Vote Canada, illustrates the disturbing disconnect between the principles of representative democracy and the workings of our current electoral system.
The 10-page study summary is available on request.
The study focuses on how well the voting system addresses the core democratic principles of voter equality and majority rule.
ˇDoes the current electoral system in Ontario support a healthy democracy? Or do Ontarians live in a dubious democracy?ˇ" the report asks. ˇThe data speaks for itselfˇKour current system routinely distorts results, wastes millions of votes, and produces parliaments that are not reflective of the electorate.ˇ"
Among the findings highlighted in the study:
,h Over the past twenty-four years, Ontario led all other provinces with the highest percentage of wasted votes (50.7%). If Ontarians casting wasted votes formed a line beginning at the front door of Queenˇ¦s Park, that line would extend up through Barrie, North Bay, Kirkland Lake, and out into Hudsonˇ¦s Bay.
,h Ontario has the second worse voter turnout record of all provinces over the past twenty-four years.
,h While Ontario is usually ruled by majority governments, the last time one was actually elected by a majority of voters was in 1929.
,h Election results are often dramatically distorted. In 1987, the Liberals captured 73% of the seats with only 47% of the votes. In 1990, the NDP won 57% of the seats with less than 38% of the votes. In 1995, the Tories won 63% of the seats with only 45% of the votes.
,h In the last election, the Liberals gained 1 MPP for every 29,000 Liberal votes; the Conservatives 1 per 65,000 votes; the NDP had 1 per 94,000 votes; and the Greens none at all for 126,000 votes.
,h The percentage of women being elected to Queenˇ¦s Park lags far behind European countries using proportional voting systems.
ˇOntario and the rest of Canada can no longer afford a dysfunctional voting system that produces unrepresentative and unaccountable governments,ˇ" the report concludes. ˇThe only thing we can afford is to draw the line, put an end to unfair elections, and choose a better way to elect parliaments and create representative and accountable governments.ˇ"