MTR-What if examples

Mixed Territorial Representation
What if examples

Here are three examples, one local, one provincial and one national, that explains how the Mixed Territorial Representation voting system would have created a Gender Balanced Legislative Assembly for each of these societies.

Example at the local level

(The following is not implemented. This is only a scenario that shows how the MTR would affect the composition of the City Council of my1 city.)

Gatineau, Quebec, Canada: Population 276 000 (2016) 

As of June 2017, the City of Gatineau was divided into 18 electoral districts. The City council was formed by 12 men and 6 women. Thus there were two timemore men than women.

Had the MTR been used at the last election in 2013, today there would be only 9 districts, but since citizens would have elected one female and one male, the number of city councilors serving citizens at the City council would still be 18.

The outcome of the MTR would have nonetheless produced a parity between the number of men and the number of women at the City Council: 9 men and 9 women.

The difference between the number of men and women at the City Council would thus be 0.

What impact would this have on the ability of the City to meet the individual, social and collective needs of the 138 000 women living in Gatineau?

Example at the provincial or state Level

(The following is not implemented. This is only a scenario that shows how the MTR would affect the composition of the City Council of my1 province.)

Quebec, Canada: Population 8,356,000 (2017)

As of June 2017, the Province of Québec was divided into 125 electoral districts and the National Assembly was composed of 91 men and 34 women or almost three times more men than women. To be precise,  there were 57 more men than women.

Had the MTR been used at the last election in 2014, today there would be only 63 districts1, but since citizens would have elected one female and one male, the number of members of parliament would be 1261 .

The outcome of the MTR would have nonetheless produced a parity between the number of men and the number of women at the National Assembly: Council: 63 men and 63 women.

The difference between the number of men and women at the National Assembly would thus be 0.

What impact would this have on the ability of the province to meet the individual, social and collective needs of the 4.1 million women of Quebec?  

Example at the national level

(The following is not implemented. This is only a scenario that shows how the MTR would affect the composition of the City Council of my1 country.)

Canada: Population 35,151,728 (2016 Census)

As of June 2017, Canada, was divided into 338 electoral districts and the House of Commons was formed by 230 men  and 108 women or two times more men than women. Thus there were 130 more men than women.

Had the MTR been used at the last election in 2015, today there would be only 169 districts, but since citizens would have elected one female and one male, the number of members of parliament would still be 338.

The outcome of the MTR would have nonetheless produced a parity between the number of men and the number of women in the House of Commons: 169 men and 169 women.

The difference between the number of men and women in the House of Commons would thus be 0.

What impact would this have on the ability of the country to meet the individual and collective needs of the 17.5 million women living in Canada?  

As you can see, the Mixed Territorial Representation voting system  always gives Gender Balanced Legislative Assembly. It does so by using the electoral process we are used to, which allows us to choose the best available male candidate and the best available female candidate.

 

1- As citizens, we are all co-owners of the societies in which we live
2 – In the case of the province of Quebec, a riding should be added to give an even number.