The Supreme Court of Canada has declined to review an appeal contesting the legality of Canada’s first-past-the-post electoral system. This system, outlined in the Canada Elections Act, determines the Member of Parliament in a riding based on the candidate with the highest number of votes.
Fair Voting B.C. and the Springtide Collective for Democratic Society contended in court that the first-past-the-post system contravenes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by not providing effective representation. They argued that the system results in the inadequate representation of women and other groups in Parliament, thus violating the Charter’s equality rights provision.
The challenge was previously dismissed by the Ontario Superior Court in 2023, which stated that although a proportional representation system could offer a more equitable alternative, it is not mandated by the Constitution. The Ontario Court of Appeal also rejected the main arguments put forth by the groups.