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Tom Monto

2023 Canadian Proportional Representation 100th Anniversaries

Updated: Apr 28, 2023

(also mentioned are known occasions of use of non-plurality voting systems)


PR achievements in Canada in 1923


1923 AB Prohibition referendum used Instant-runoff voting but one option -- government liquor stores and privately-owned beerhalls -- took majority in the first count before any vote transfers. (This was before Alberta used IRV in elections so it was its first use in provincial level. In this case no vote transfer were conducted so the process was the same as if FPTP was in use.)


St. James, Manitoba referendum held in 1923. 1161 voted in favour and only 511 against its adoption. (Harris, p. 367) (St. James continued to use STV until about 1970.)


1923 Winnipeg-area municipalities first used STV for municipal elections - St. Boniface, St. James, Transcona and St. Vital. (approximately 15th to 18th municipalities in Canada to adopt PR)


Edmonton adopted STV for its city elections (approximately 19th municipality in Canada to adopt PR)

Saskatoon referendum held in 1923. Saskatoon already was using STV - vote was on its repeal. 2003 voted against; only 1965 in favour of its cancellation. Once STV was put into use, usually each referendum on its cancellation saw majority of voters vote for its removal. But this referendum was an exception.

(Later Saskatoon voters did vote for its removal but then unusually later Saskatoon voters voted to bring it in again - and then voted to remove it once more.)


Calgary used STV in its seventh city election to elect aldermen.


(Vancouver, Victoria and other BC cities had dropped STV by this time.

Lethbridge was to adopt STV in 1928.)

Manitoba continued its existing STV for Winnipeg MLAs and in 1923 added IRV for members outside Winnipeg.

(Alberta adopted hybrid STV/IRV voting system in provincial elections in 1924)


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