Québec’s election delivered a Parti Québécois minority government with roughly 28 percent of the popular vote, raising questions about how closely the National Assembly reflects the electorate. The result gives the PQ the largest share of seats, despite nearly three-quarters of valid ballots going to other parties.

Original data research by Local 514 journalist Kalden Rangdröl Dhatsenpa reveals another dimension of that representation gap: in 92 ridings, the number of registered electors who did not vote exceeded the ballots cast for the winning candidate. If non-voters were counted as a hypothetical party, they would have finished first in those constituencies.
The comparison shows how a candidate can win while receiving the support of a relatively small portion of the people registered to vote in their riding. Under Québec’s first-past-the-post system, a candidate needs more votes than any rival, not a majority of votes cast.

In a new Local 514 episode, Kalden Dhatsenpa and CJLO News Hour host Adam Inniss discuss what these findings mean for democratic representation and electoral reform, with the latter re-entering public discourse in light of this election.

Proportional representation would bring parties’ seat totals closer to their share of the vote. Some mockups of this election’s popular vote transposed into a proportional system show how different the results would be, with the CAQ receiving between 17 and 19 seats. Changing the voting system could improve representation, but these proportional transposals don’t show how differently people might vote if their vote counted more.

The election leaves Québec with a government able to lead, but whose electoral support falls well short of a majority. Local 514’s findings sharpen the province’s question: what would an electoral system that better represents Quebecers actually look like?

Joseph from Anakbayan Montréal joins Local 514 host Kalden Dhatsenpa to discuss the Filipino youth organization’s wide-ranging work, from cultural activities and community support to workers’ rights and international solidarity. He shares how learning about human rights abuses in the Philippines moved him to get involved, connecting struggles back home with organizing here in Montréal.Find Anakbayan Montreal on social media:Instagram: / anakbayanmtl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/...Make sure to follow Local 514 & CUTV on social media to stay up to date with new episodes and more content:Local 514Instagram: / local514montreal CUTVInstagram: / cutv.community Website: https://www.cutvmontreal.org/In a rush and want to hear more? Listen to our Local 514 podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/08F3UST...

An interview with Randy Legault-Rankin, Liberal Party of Quebec candidate in Laurier-Dorion. Legault-Rankin pitches why Quebecers should vote for the party.

In this conversation, we discussed the party’s reasons for keeping Quebec in Canada, the homelessness crisis, the notwithstanding clause, and more.

The provincial election is on Oct. 5th. Stay tuned for more Local 514 election coverage, including our livestream with CJLO on election night at 7 pm.

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Website: https://www.cutvmontreal.org/