The Power to Act: Climate Change and Proportional Representation

Our electoral system, first-past-the-post, has an enormous impact on the policies our governments produce, sometimes with dire consequences. Ontario’s Doug Ford is a perfect example of this: obtaining a majority government with only 40% of the vote, the Conservative party scrapped Cap and Trade, a key emissions-capping policy implemented by the previous government to target climate change. Although parties in favour of climate action secured a majority of votes (60%) last election, their support was split between several parties which resulted in their loss.

With the high stakes of climate change at risk, it’s worth asking if there is a better way to elect governments in order to enact policies the majority of voters want and need.

Join Fair Vote Toronto with Fridays For Future Toronto exploring the challenges and opportunities electoral systems create through the lens of pursuing strong climate policy. Our panelists will explore climate action, activist strategy and the political potential of adopting proportional representation, an electoral system that gives voters the power to act by rewarding cooperation over competition.