Ian and Scott sit down with Jackie from Leadnow to discuss electoral reform in the first of our monthly Deep Dive episodes where we examine a single topic in detail. We examine the current reform efforts in Canada, the systems under consideration and other tweaks for how Canadians vote. The Liberals promised in their 2015 platform “that 2015 will be the last federal election conducted under the first-past-the-post voting system.” We discuss their promise and the progress they have made. Systems under consideration are:

* First Past the Post, also known as Single Member Plurality

* Alternative Vote (AV) also known as Instant Runoff (IRV)

* Mixed Member Proportional (MMP)

Made in Canada MMP – Fair Vote Canada

* Single Transferable Vote (STV)

Made in Canada STV – Fair Vote Canada

* Urban Rural Proportional (Pamphlet)

* Also discussed were previous attempts to change the electoral system in Canada and whether the question of what system to change to should be put to a referendum

Links:

* Leadnow

* Vote Better

* Electoral Reform Committee

* Library of Parliament Background papers: Current System (PDF, Long)

* Law Commision Report (Web Archive)

* Liberal Party of Canada Platform

* CGP Grey Videos

* Table of Voting Systems and Criteria 

* Additional Ideas under consideration

* History of Reform in Canada

* Fair Vote Canada

* Additional Resources

Finally here’s the testimony given at Meeting No 42 ERRE – Special Committee on Electoral Reform on Oct 21st.