Canadian Proportional Representation

Canadian Proportional Representation

By

James Bredin

For five minutes every five years we get a chance to change,
Rearrange our pompous politicians, who may be deranged,
But we can’t change the political system of first-past-the-post,
As we watch those erroneously elected celebrate and boast.

Canadians don’t realize the problems of first-past-the-post,
Think it’s democracy if elected candidate wins with the most,
But with more than two candidates and combined loosers have more,
As majority try to make sense of the obscure final score.

Because they are not represented by the one who was elected,
Their votes were split among the several others they selected,
The system should be changed to proportional representation,
So the votes of the majority are not lost in frustration.

Lots of wasted time and votes as though given away for free,
It should be according to the voters’ preferences -- one, two, three,
Press a button and a computer will say who is elected,
Closer to democracy and what everyone expected.

Proportional representation, like referendums and recall,
Not much thought about in Canadian politics at all,
Where lawyers say that Trudeau’s Charter for “EVERYONE” is okay,
Incoming refugees and terrorists all claiming rights to stay.

Sunday, January 21, 2007