PowerPoint 5: Ridings and Local Candidates

What is a riding? A riding, also known as an electoral district or constituency, is a geographical area represented by an elected official. The size of a riding is determined by population size and geographical features. Urban ridings are small and densely populated, while rural ridings are large and sparse.

Riding Facts What is the smallest federal riding? Papineau, Quebec: it is only 9 square kilometers in size. What is the largest federal riding? Nunavut, Nunavut: it is 2,093,190 square kilometers in size. In the 2015 general election, which federal riding had the greatest number of ballots cast? Orléans, Ontario: there were 78,260 ballots cast in the election (80,6 %). In the 2015 general election, which federal riding had the greatest number of candidates? The riding of Papineau (Quebec) had 10 candidates

What is an MP? At the federal level in Canada, the elected official is called a Member of Parliament (MP). MPs represent the needs and interests of their constituents (people living in their riding) and address issues at the local level. Canadians will elect 338 MPs in the current federal election.

What is Canada’s electoral system? Canada uses a system called First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) or Single-Member Plurality. Citizens elect one member per riding. Citizens can only choose one candidate on the ballot. The winning candidate must receive at least one more vote than any other candidate. This is also known as a plurality.

How does First-Past-The-Post work? An example of FPTP, in a riding with 100 ballots cast. CANDIDATE NUMBER OF VOTES Leila (Banana Party) 40 Mohamed (Pear Party) 15 Emma (Apple Party) 11 Thomas (Independent) 34 Who wins? Why? Leila wins because she has the most votes (40), even though most voters chose someone else (60 voters).

2015 Federal Election Results After the 2015 federal election, the Liberal Party formed government with 184 out of 338 legislative seats 9

2015 Federal Election Results However the Liberal Party only received 39.5% of the Popular Vote. Should our voting system be changed in order to require at least 50% of the popular vote in order to win? 10

2015 Federal Student Vote Results 11

How does someone run for election? In Canada, elections are organized by Elections Canada Elections Canada is the independent, non-partisan agency responsible for conducting federal elections. A person running for election is called a candidate. Any person who wants to run in the federal election must file nomination papers with Elections Canada by the nomination deadline (21 days before Election Day – September 28). Elections are always held on the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following the polling day for the preceding general election

How does someone run for election? Political parties select candidates to run for their party in ridings across the country. Candidates can also run as an independent or without any association to a party. Elections Canada posts the names of the candidates on their website: www.elections.ca

The Prime Minister You don’t run in an election to be Prime Minister. It is not an elected positon, unlike the United States. In Canada the Prime Minister is the leader of the party in the house of commons with the most seats

How to Become Prime Minister

The Prime Minister Do you have what it takes to be Prime Minister? http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/senatoreugeneforsey/inside_view/pm_challenge-e.html

Majority vs. Minority Government A minority government exists when the governing party does not hold a majority of seats in the House of Commons Majority Government A majority government exists when the governing party does hold the majority of seats in the House of Commons

Majority vs. Minority Government What is the benefit of a Majority Government?

Discussion Canada is a very large nation with different needs and issues Does an MP from Labrador have the same priorities as an MP from Toronto Centre or Vancouver South? Are MPs in rural New Brunswick dealing with the same issues as an MP from urban Saskatchewan? What geographical, cultural or socio-economic differences might there be between the people of these different ridings? How might these differences affect interactions between MPs in the House of Commons?

Comparing Canadian and American Government Systems http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/senatoreugeneforsey/inside_view/canada_usa-e.html