It was not just some cynical reason the effort failed. MMP is a party list system. Canadians don’t want it. Over and over again Canadians vote down any change that doesn’t make representatives accountable to voters. Our government system is called Responsible Government for a reason.
Also Canadians do not like minority governments. Proportional representation is not that popular on Canada.
Also we like simple systems with simple voting strategies. MMP is very complicated. Lots of weird tactics like voting for a small party but a candidate from a bigger party.
> Also Canadians do not like minority governments. Proportional representation is not that popular on Canada.
Proportional representation doesn't need to result in minority governments. Proportional voting is very common in Europe but minority governments aren't.
Just means parties need to find common themes on which they agree, and compromise on some their more controversial goals. Finland has had up to six parties in a single government to make sure tough decisions can be passed.
Only when the coalition doesn't have a majority of the parliament seats. I don't think minority governments are common at all in Europe, as the whole point of a coalition is usually to get majority.
Personally, I prefer the minority governments. They have to play nice with the other kids, at the risk of being chucked out of power. As a minority, they have to keep at least one other party reasonably content. Harper's minority years were more reasonable than once he got a majority.
The NDP/Green coalition in BC is new, but seems OK so far, and that same minority aspect probably tempers the behaviour of both parties.
I do need to do some homework before the referendum though.
Also Canadians do not like minority governments. Proportional representation is not that popular on Canada.
Also we like simple systems with simple voting strategies. MMP is very complicated. Lots of weird tactics like voting for a small party but a candidate from a bigger party.