Justin Trudeau Disappointed Me. I’m Still Voting for Him.
AtlanticAPR 2021
Canadian Election: Electoral System Overview
Above: Elections Canada signs are visible in front of one of the polling stations in the Edmonton Gateway riding district, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on April 20, 2025. Image copyright: Artur Widak/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Faith in the Canadian electoral system is stronger than ever, and voters have expressed their preference for the stability of long-held mechanisms in these tumultuous times. In the midst of an unprecedented and potentially devastating trade war with the U.S., Canada's parliamentary democracy has proven itself to be conducive to peace, order, and good governance, and there's no desire amongst the public for radical change. While engagement can always be improved, the FPTP system has worked and is the best suited to deliver strong majority governments that can take decisive action.
Establishment-critical narrative
While the establishment parties have gotten a Trump boost as Canadians rally around the flag, the reality remains that the state of democracy in Canada is more precarious than we would like to acknowledge. Political polarization continues to grow, and regional discontent threatens to tear the country apart amid threats of separatism as division deepens and Canadians go unheard. FPTP exacerbates all of these problems, and Canada can delay no longer the move to a proportional electoral system if it is to avoid a fate like its southern neighbor.