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Tom Monto

Have Canadian governments ever changed electoral systems?

Updated: Sep 5, 2020

Yes.


Several provincial governments, and even the federal government, have changed the voting systems used.


The only change at the federal level, other than the gradual increase in the number of districts, was the splitting of some two-member Block Voting districts into two separate single-member districts, where members were elected through First Past the Post (FPTP). Ottawa was converted in 1933; Halifax and Queen's, PEI in 1966.


Many changes have taken place at the provincial level. Every western province has changed its electoral system.


1914 Manitoba gave second MLAs to the four districts in Winnipeg. Election of the two seats in each district was done by two separate First Past The Post (FPTP) elections in each district, in each of which each voter could cast one vote by marking "X". Used for 1914 and 1915 elections. The largest voting block was able to take both seats in each district. (1914 election: the largest single block (the same in both votes) elected both seats in each district. The two Winnipeg North were captured by Conservatives, the two Winnipeg Centre and two Winnipeg Centre seats were captured by Liberals. (source: Edmonton Capital, July 11, 1914))


1920 Manitoba brought in Single Transferable Voting (STV) for election of MLAs in Winnipeg. Winnipeg at that time was made into one city-wide district. Mixed representation of variety of parties were elected.


1921 Alberta Liberal government grouped the Edmonton districts into one city-wide district and brought in Block Voting, where each voter could cast up to five votes. Five Liberals elected in the five Edmonton seats, although Liberal candidates received only a third of city votes.

Calgary made into one district and given Block Voting but perhaps due to experience with STV in city elections, voters elected a variety of candidates anyway.


1924 Alberta United Farmers government brought in STV for election of MLAs in Edmonton, Calgary and Medicine Hat. It also brought in Alternative Voting for the other districts.


1924 Manitoba brought in Alternative Voting for its districts outside Winnipeg.


1928 (approx.) Medicine Hat multi-member STV district divided into two single-member districts. Alternative Voting installed.


1949 Winnipeg's single city-wide STV district divided into four three-member districts. STV continued to be used.

St. Boniface given another seat. STV installed.


1952 BC government had been using mixture of single-member FPTP districts and multi-member Block Voting districts. Changed to Alternative Voting for all seats, installing a separate AV election for each seat in the multiple-member districts. This was used in 1952 and 1953 elections.


1954 (approx.) BC government cancelled AV. Adopted FPTP in single-member districts, Block Voting in the multi-member districts.


1955 Manitoba government cancelled STV and AV, divided the multi-member districts in Winnipeg and St. Boniface into separate single-member districts, installed FPTP in all the province's districts.


1955 Alberta Social Credit government cancelled STV and AV, divided the city-wide districts in Edmonton and Calgary into separate single-member districts, installed FPTP in all the province's districts.


1967 Saskatchewan stopped using mixture of multi-member Block Voting districts and single-member FPTP districts. The multi-member districts (Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw) were divided into single-member districts. FPTP installed.


1980 (approx.) BC government stopped using mixture of single-member FPTP districts and multi-member Block Voting districts. Split multi-member districts into single-member districts. FPTP installed for election of all seats.


All these changes were done without holding referendums among voters.


Each government has the privilege to change the electoral system.


(Many Canadian cities, including the capital cities of all four western provinces, have also switched from Block Voting to STV for election of city councillors, and switched back. Also cities have brought in single-member wards and installed FPTP.

Saskatoon switched from Block Voting for election of city councillors, to STV and switched back, and then brought in STV again and then switched back once again.

Often but not always these changes were done in accordance with referendum among voters.)


Thanks for reading.

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keywords: electoral reform, proportional representation,


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