Charter Challenge for Fair Voting

First-past-the-post consistently leaves half or more voters unrepresented. We're asking the Court to make it right. By @SpringtideCo & @FairVotingBC.

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

@FairVoteCanada We agree with FVC - @FredDeLorey, check out Prof. Emmett Macfarlane (U Waterloo) on this - "Why Parliament is (Mostly) Free to Implement a New Voting System". https://t.co/breOytFqEC

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Wrapping up now. Thanks Nicolas! #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

How do you establish disproportionality? One election? Many? Sharma, Fraser give guidance re: causation. Statistical and logical, as we have here re: mechanics. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Causation under Mathys (sp?) decision a couple of weeks ago, standard is balance of probabilities. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

NR points out that JM quotes experts when he agrees with them, so these are effectively findings. Dr. Bird says that even if the exact increase can't be predicted, it will be significantly positive. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Answer to AG: we're not demanding particular outcomes or system - we're asking for Parliament to choose a system that treats voters of all types equally and fairly. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

We leave it to Parliament to decide. Court needs to decide if FPTP denies effective representation because many voters don't have political representation (and commensurate with share of popular vote) #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

JH: what do you mean - 4-8 seats? NR: districts electing 4-8 members. JH: what do you do with 5% nationally? How do you regulate this? NR: there are many possibilities - principle, not system. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Court needs to say that FPTP breaches s3 by denying half the voters effective political representation and a system should be chosen that substantially addresses this. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Dr. Carey says a proportional system would generate the lion's share of the benefits with moderate district magnitudes. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

JH: the myriad options make it difficult to see how a system could satisfy our criteria. How could Parliament choose an acceptable system? #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

You can have a system that delivers both strong legislative representation and the other cited benefits. The values the AGC wants considered should be considered under s1. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

"I do not intend to express any opinion about the acceptability of the First Past the Post system" #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Figueroa actually says that the Charter is only neutral with respect to voting systems as long as the system complies with the Charter. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Nicolas again. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Significant change requires express language. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Evolutionary nature of charter: McMurtry says it is not the American Bill of Rights - it's an evolution of our legal system #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Charter was not intended to revolutionize society. All parts of constitution stand on equal footing. Most predate the charter. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Follows from structure of constitution and repatriation. Not a claim that all laws at the time of the Charter are constitutional. Rather, certain parts of pre-charter legal order enjoy a strong presumption #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights

[Charter Challenge for Fair Voting @Challenge4FV]

Canadian Constitution Foundation: intervenes re: proper method of interpreting constitution. Focusing on presumption of continuity. #charterchallenge #cdnpoli #votingrights