The four Western Canadian provinces changed their electoral systems multiple times.
In Alberta the first three provincial governments each changed the voting system.
(five changes - three in 1905-1921 period, 1 in 1921-1935, 1 in 1932-971)
The Liberals started the province with FPTP, brought in Block Voting in a couple districts in 1909-1913, then again in 1921.
The UFA brought in STV in the cities and Alternative Voting outside the cities.
The Social Credit cancelled STV/AV in 1955 and brought in FPTP voting in single-member districts throughout the province.
As well, there was "automatic re-election" of some Conservative and Liberal MLAs in the 1917 election and special seats created for elected military personnel in both world wars.
The Manitoba government (four changes)
started with FPTP, brought in two-slate FPTP in Winnipeg's three two-member districts, brought in STV in city-wide Winnipeg district in 1920, brought in Alternative Voting for all areas outside Winnipeg in 1924, changed Winnipeg to three multi-member STV districts, then cancelled both STV and AV in the 1950s to return to FPTP.
Saskatchewan (two changes)
changed its voting system when it gave Regina City, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw an additional MLA in 1921 (making them multiple-member districts, electing through Block Voting).
It gave Regina City an additional member in 1952 (so it elected three MLAs) and again in 1956 (so it elected four MLAs).
It gave Saskatoon an additional member in 1960.
It gave Saskatoon another two members in 1964, so it elected five MLAs altogether.
It abolished multi-member districts (and Block Voting) in Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw in 1967.
BC (three changes)
used a mixture of FPTP single-member districts and Block Voting multi-member districts in each election from 1867 to 1952,
then AV in both single-member districts and multi-member districts in 1952 and 1953,
then returned to a mixture of FPTP single-member districts and Block Voting multi-member districts in each election until 1987,
when it switched to only FPTP single-member districts.
As well, Ontario for a short time (in the 1886 and 1890 elections) used Limited Voting to elect Toronto MPPs. (Thus Ontario made two changes)
Yukon has used a system other than single-member FPTP as well. From 1909 when elected members became the only occupants of the Yukon Territorial Council, to 1919, Territorial councillors were elected in two-member districts, with each voter casting up to two votes. It is not known why larger two-seat districts were used instead of smaller single-member districts, in an area where population was sparse anyway. Starting in 1920, elections were held in single-member districts. In the Yukon Territorial Council there was no official party identification until 1978.
All these changes were done without referendums, as is the right of governments. So far no provincial government in Canada has changed its electoral system due to a referendum.
See my blog "Variety of electoral systems used in Canada's past" for more information.
Also check out my blog "list of Montopedia blogs concerning electoral reform" to find other blogs on this important subject.
Thanks for reading.
Note:
Denis Pilon in his brief to the 2016 House of Commons Committee on electoral reform stated "Historically, Canada has had ten successful voting system reforms at the provincial level, none of which involved referenda."
I get 16 times but some are minor so Pilon is forgiven!
His brief can be found in other blog.
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