Trudeau would end 'first-past-the-post' system

CTVNews.ca Staff, Published Tuesday, June 16, 2015 4:45AM EDT, Last Updated Tuesday, June 16, 2015 11:39AM EDT

Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau

makes an announcement on fair and

open government in Ottawa on Tuesday,

June 16, 2015.

(Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is proposing to “make every vote count” by getting rid of Canada’s first-past-the-post electoral system.

Trudeau announced his 32-point plan Tuesday to “restore democracy in Canada” if he becomes prime minister by introducing electoral reform legislation that could lead to ranked ballots or proportional representation.

The first-past-the-post system allows a political party to win the majority of seats in the House of Commons even if it doesn’t get a similar share of the popular vote. Trudeau said that needs to change so that the House is more reflective of Canadians’ ballot choices.

“The ballot is the most important symbol of democracy,” Trudeau said at a news conference Tuesday in Ottawa.

“I’m proposing we make every vote count.”

Trudeau said the Liberal Party is committed to ensuring that the upcoming October election is the last federal election conducted under the first-past-the-post system.

He said the Liberals would bring forward electoral reform legislation within 18 months of forming a government. 

The Liberal leader also said he would strengthen the role of MPs by introducing more free votes in the House of Commons and making sure that the prime minister takes questions from more MPs – and not just opposition leaders – during daily question period.

Trudeau vowed to “reform” the Senate by making it “non-partisan” and noted that he has already removed all Liberal-appointed senators from the party’s caucus.

Trudeau also listed other changes outlined in his platform, including reduced fees for access-to-information requests from the government and making sure that all government data is “open by default.”

With files from The Canadian Press