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Some are, and some aren't -- the answer to the question of whether or not Alberta is being heard in Ottawa

  • Tom Monto
  • May 30
  • 2 min read

Some are saying that Alberta voters are not heard in Ottawa (In Mark Carney's government).


But I believe situation is more nuanced than that.


Alberta voters are being heard but in disproportional proportions.


some voters of each of the three main parties are being heard, and some have no direct representation.

some voters in two Alberta ridings have direct representation in the governing caucus in the HofC, 


 while under PR, easily, supporters of 11 or so Alberta Liberal MPs or of 20 or so Alberta Conservative MPs would have direct representation in a governing caucus.


Voters of the three main parties have some elected representation in Alberta, not in PR numbers but each voter of those parties can look to someone elected in the province to represent them.


This is an indirect form of rep.

but is something that was not seen in many periods of history. - one party took all the seats

Alberta elected no Liberal MP 1957–1963, 1965–1968, 1972–1993, 2006–2015, 2019 to 2021.

Alberta elected no CCF or NDP until 1988, then not until 2006.

Alberta elected no Social Credit MP before 1935 and none after 1968.


Alberta elected only Progressives Conservatives in 1957, and 1972-1988,


and one party took an overwhelming part (more than two-thirds) of the Alberta seats from 1911 to  the present.


currently, Alberta Conservatives are being heard in larger sense than they should - with 34 seats instead of 24,

Liberals in two ridings are being heard,

NDP voters in one riding are being heard.


Even then, Conservative voters in Alberta are being heard but have little influence in a Liberal government.

like NDP voters.


PR would merely ensure that 

-a government in Ottawa has support of most of the voters country-wide, something not done today. (even if by use of a coalition or CSA)

-that most voters in each district in Alberta, as elsewhere, would elect someone.


but PR would not ensure that all Alberta MPs would be in government (and have influence)

PR would ensure that all (or most) voters in Alberta would elect someone and thus be heard in the HofC, but not that their elected rep would be in government.

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History | Tom Monto Montopedia is a blog about the history, present, and future of Edmonton, Alberta. Run by Tom Monto, Edmonton historian. Fruits of my research, not complete enough to be included in a book, and other works.

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