[commanderkai]

Gunnair wrote:

Well, unless you happen to be in the governing party, or the local issue is amazingly sexy, that doesn't always work. With only rookie NDP (save for Victoria) and May, the Island is preparing to enter a political wasteland.

Agreed. It's not a perfect system, but FPTP is usually more local focused compared to other voting systems out there. Proportional representation might give the parties better representation federally, but the actual representatives usually are based off of Party lists, rather than what local constituencies might want.

Considering that Canada is massive compared to, let's say, Israel, which uses a PR system. As such, it's impossible to properly represent what local or regional populations might like.

[EyeBrock]

Maybe I’m pushing my own views on how to vote here.

I know the CPC donkey I voted for.

He was a councillor prior to him being an MP. He lives here and he’s been reasonable-ish at getting stuff, grants etc ,for this riding. That’s why I voted for him. The provincial gov is a nightmare. I had to buy weed killer in Buffalo.

To me, its local.

If this CPC carrot-cruncher didn’t do it, he wouldn’t get my vote.

[bootlegga]

EyeBrock wrote:

First past the post makes sure local issues are front and centre. For a huge country like Canada, its a good fit.

Win your local riding or go find another job.

Sorry EB, gotta disagree with you on this one...

Yeah, that's why Toronto got federal funding for the Pan-AM Games but Edmonton couldn't get the same for its Expo bid, right?

After all, all but one MP in Alberta was from the governing party Conservative (when the decision was made not of fund it) - so if it's truly as you say, Edmonton should have gotten the money just like Toronto did correct?

After all, your argument seems to be that with FPTP, MPs always look after their own ridings instead of the national picture.

Sorry, but FPTP is not the only system that works. STV was used in Alberta provincial politics for almost 40 years and it never once created the dreaded minority/coalition governments that FPTP supporters usually claim it will.

FPTP winds up marginalizing lots of voters - like non-conservatives in Alberta or conservatives in larger urban centres. The easiest way to make STV/PR work is to cut the number of ridings in half and elect two MPs per riding. In places like Alberta, Conservatives would still get elected, and voters who chose someone other than Conservative would also have an MP to represent them. Same goes for larger urban ridings - in previous elections, some ridings would have had a Liberal/NDP and a Conservative.