Four parties elected in House of Commons, minority governments, all are the sort of mixed representation that is our proportional due. But it is seldom produced by our existing FPTP electoral system.
The 1920s is generally thought to be the start of "third party" representation in Canada, "third parties" being any parties in addition to the old standbys - the Liberals and Conservatives.
The diverse membership elected in the 1921 election is well known - with Labour MPs and farmers MPs being elected, the Conservatives being held to a minority of seats and the Liberals claiming only the merest of a majority in the House of Commons.
This was the start of consistent "third party" representation, with the Labour MPs and some of the farmer MPs of the 1920s helping found the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation party, which would go on in turn to help found the New Democratic Party. In every federal election since 1921, Labour and UFA, or CCF, or NDP, MPs have been elected to the House of Commons.
But 1921 was not the first time that "third parties" were elected to the House of Commons, and it was not the first time that candidates of four parties were elected to the House of Commons.
It happened even earlier, in 1896:
Libs 117 MPs
Cons 97 MPs
Patrons of Industry (farmers) 2 MPs
McCarthyite party led by Dalton McCarthy 2 MPs
A majority was 107 seats. so it was a Liberal majority government.
If the minor McCarthyite party is not accepted as a fourth party, then there was also the Lib-Cons MPs. This strange sort of coalition of the two main parties or joint candidates captured seats in 1896 and then sat alongside pure Liberal and pure Conservative MPs.
This representation of that many parties in the House of Commons may have been only a short-lived experience. But third parties were soon to make an appearance in various legislatures.
Ontario did have three parties in its legislature about this time.
In BC, the "Nationalist Party" espoused "National Socialism", based on Edward Bellamy's writings. It favoured nationalization of industry. Its candidate Robert Macpherson was elected MLA in 1894 and 1898.
Labour candidate Arthur Puttee was elected MP in a Winnipeg by-election and in the general election of he same year.
Labour candidate Ralph Smith was elected in Vancouver in the 1900 federal election.
The 1909 Alberta provincial election saw a Socialist elected to sit alongside Libs and Cons. in the Legislature.
And so on.
However, the representation of four parties in 1896 did not result in federal pro-rep.
Nor did the wider four-party representation that happened in 1921 and 1926.
Let's hope that whatever it was that prevented them from making that final step will not be an obstacle to us today.
Perhaps the election of a committed group of MPs, even of a small party elevated close to power due to a minority government situation, may make a break-through in regards implementing pro-rep at the federal level.
The representation of the "third parties" in 1921 was such that for part of the 14th Parliament elected in 1921 there was a minority federal government, the first time in Canada's history since 1872. Nowadays minority governments are common but back then they were rare.
The first federal minority government happened in the country's second election (1872) when the election of six various Independents denied majority to either of the old-line parties.
Even when basically there were only two main parties, the two main parties took about the same percentage of the vote, but one, of course, usually receiving a large amount of the seats through the windfall accorded the leading party under FPTP. Thus when the windfall did not happen (due to blind chance), the election of a handful of Independents could produce a minority government, as it did in 1872.
Federal pro-rep was not achieved when STV was adopted by 17 western Canada cities and by two provincial governments (Alberta and Manitoba) in the 1917-1929 period.
But hopefully all this and more will happen in our future.
Pro-rep provides benefits that governments may want to have even if their hold on power would be weakened under pro-rep. (For one, the prestige of knowing that it actually deserves its power and position!)
We currently have no constitutional demands for supermajorities or other devices that can lead to need for pro-rep. I am not sure how to create such a need for pro-rep. Perhaps some sort of parliamentary reference to vote tallies not seat counts, may do that.
Generally, I think that we need to exert such pressure that a party will endorse pro-rep and in an election campaign promise to bring it in, and then do so after/if elected.
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One form of pro-rep that has been used in Canada is Single Transferable Voting.
What is STV?
From a 1902 reform magazine: "Thinking it well to have in every number something by way of a brief explanation of proportional voting, I repeat in this number the following. Proportional representation means the use of a reasonable and scientific system of voting instead of the present stupid, unfair and inefficient procedure. Methods: There are several systems by which the principle of proportional representation may be given effect to. Large electoral districts, each electing several members, are a necessary feature. The "quota" plan is usually employed. It means that a quota of the votes elects one representative. To arrive at the quota, the number of valid votes cast is divided by the number of seats to be filled. For instance in a seven-member district any one-seventh of the voters could elect one representative and the other six-sevenths could not interfere with their choice. The three principal systems of proportional representation are the Free List as used in Switzerland and Belgium [party-list pro-rep], the Hare system as used in Tasmania [STV], and the Gove System as advocated in Massachusetts. The Preferential Vote [Alternative Voting/Instant Run-off Voting] -- This is used in the election of single officers such as a mayor. It is not strictly a form of pro-rep but is akin thereto, and uses part of the same voting methods. The object of preferential voting is to encourage the free nomination of candidates and to obtain always a clear majority at one balloting, no matter how many candidates are nominated." (From the Proportional Representation Review Dec. 1902, p. 77) (Hathi Trust online resource, page 81/180) Thanks for reading. Check out my blog "list of Montopedia blogs concerning electoral reform" to find other blogs on this important subject. ----------------------------------- This year: *Alberta is celebrating 150 years in Confederation 1870-2020 *100th Anniversary of STV first being used to elect legislators in Canada Winnipeg MLAs first elected through STV in 1920 ==============================================================
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