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Toronto – January 9, 2015 – In the 2011 federal election, Con boss Harper won a majority government even though only 39% of those who voted, voted Conservative. A majority of Canadians, 61%, voted against Harper but Harper rules. As a result, more and more voters feel their votes are meaningless and that the current system is just plain unfair. Voter turnout continues to decline, and to add insult to injury, Harper passes new laws like Bill C-23, The Fair Election Act (more appropriately know as the Unfair Elections Act) that will further suppress voter turnout.

Around the world, advanced democracies have recognized the flaws of the winner-take-all,
first-past-the-post system of electing our governments and have adopted better models that work. In a study of 36 countries with proportional representation systems of electing their governments, there was an increase in voter turnout; more women and minorities were elected, making government much more reflective of society; and there was an overall higher satisfaction with democracy.

Elections under proportional representation have led to governments that are not based on one single partisan view, or a narrow segment of society. Proportional governments represent a broader
cross-section of society, and as a result, the policies they pass tend to be more credible, stable, and based on the common good.

There will be a federal election sometime in 2015 and Canadians will have a choice. Not only will they have an opportunity to defeat Harper but they will also have the opportunity to make this the last election under our archaic electoral system.

NDP and Official Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair has made it clear that an NDP government will introduce a new proportional representation system of electing our government if elected.

Now it is up to Canadians to make the next election the last unfair election.