Electoral reform proposals in Quebec, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

• Author: Cody, Howard

Led by New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, several provinces are considering a change front plurality elections to mixed member proportionality (MMP). With New Zealand's nine years of experience with MMP in its Westminster-style Parliament in mind, this article identifies how these provinces are addressing the many variations that MMP might take in Canada. It further uses New Zealand's transition to MMP to consider how well the operation of MMP in Canada's provinces and the House of Commons might meet its proponents' expectations.

**********

Momentum for electoral reform may be building in several provinces. Most Canadians have little knowledge of electoral systems other than first-past-the-post (FPP) plurality. But, British Columbia's quixotic flirtation with alternate voting aside, Canadians may soon face several options for proportional representation (PR). Three provinces--New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, with Ontario possibly close behind are considering a version of the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system in which some MPs are elected in individual ridings while others gain office from party lists. We address three provinces' situations in the context of New Zealand's nine-year, experience with an MMP variant adapted from Germany's successful half century-old model.

Factors to Consider in Devising a MMP System

The first factor to consider is one of democratic legitimacy. How does each province propose to devise and implement its new electoral system? Will it hold public consultations and a referendum that may supply the legitimacy any new arrangement will need to survive early crises? British Columbia's recent experience shows how a super majority threshold can make it much harder to pass any electoral reform in a referendum.

New Zealand set up a Royal Commission that proposed MMP. Then it staged two referenda, the second a runoff between MMP and FPP requiring only a simple majority to pass. MMP received 54% support and took effect in 1996. New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island used arms-length appointed commissions to make proposals with limited public input. PEI now has a second commission carrying out a public information campaign and working out some MMP details. In Quebec, the Minister for the Reform of Democratic Institutions presented its plan in a bill to the National Assembly. New Brunswick and PEI have pledged to hold referenda, presumably up-or-down on a specific scheme. They have not indicated whether they will require a support threshold above 50% to implement MMP. Quebec has made no referendum promise, but a legislative committee will hold consultations on the government proposal.

A second factor in considering MMP proposals relates to the distribution of seats between those elected in single member ridings and those filled from a list. How many list seats are proposed compared to riding seats, and how are they distributed across the province?

New Zealand uses a single national constituency for list MPs. At present there are 69 riding MPs, while 51 are elected on lists. As in Canada, the number of riding MPs increases periodically to accommodate population shifts. The total stays at 120. New Brunswick proposes 36 riding MLAs supplemented by 20 MLAs elected from party lists in four regions, providing 9 riding and 5 list MLAs per region. PEI's first commission recommended 21 riding and 10 list MLAs, the latter preferably chosen from single province-wide lists. Quebec proposes 75 riding and 50 list MNAs from perhaps 27 regions. Most regions would elect 3 riding MNAs and 2 list MNAs.

Another issue relates to the selection of party list candidates from open or closed lists. May voters select party list candidates in a primary? In the election, may they choose between each party's list candidates, or must they accept the order in which they appear on the ballot? New Zealand uses closed lists drawn up by party-appointed list committees. There are no primaries. All three provinces endorse this arrangement.

The question of a minimum percentage each party needs in its party vote to win proportional seats also needs to be considered. New Zealand awards MPs to parties that poll 5% of the party vote or elect one riding MP across the country. New Brunswick proposes a minimum vote of 6% per region and also 5% across the province to elect...