Canadian Views on Proportional Representation
report
Submitted to:
Fair Vote Canada
EKOS RESEARCH ASSOCIATES INC.
January 2025
EKOS RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
Ottawa Office
359 Kent Street, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R6
Tel: (613) 235 7215
Fax: (613) 235 8498
E-mail: pobox@ekos.com
www.ekos.com
Table of Contents
2.1 Support for proportional representation 5
2.2 Preferred Prime Minister stance on proportional representation 7
Appendix: Questionnaire
Methodology
This survey was conducted using EKOS’ probability-based panel, Probit. Probit offers complete coverage of the Canadian population (i.e., Internet, phone, cell phone), random recruitment (in other words, participants are recruited randomly, they do not opt themselves into our panel), and equal probability sampling. All respondents to our panel are recruited by telephone using random digit dialling (RDD) and are confirmed by live interviews. Survey results from our panel are generalizeable to the broader Canadian population and allow for margins of error to be associated with results.
The field dates for this survey were January 22-29, 2025. In total, a random sample of 1,569 Canadians aged 18 and over responded to the survey. The margin of error associated with the total sample is +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Please note that the margin of error increases when the results are sub-divided (i.e., for sub-groups such as region, gender and age). All the data have been statistically weighted to ensure the sample’s composition reflects that of the actual population of Canada according to Census data.
Note that due to rounding, figures may not add up to 100 per cent.
Detailed results
Support for proportional representation
Respondents were informed that proportional representation means that the total number of seats held by each party in Parliament would be roughly equivalent to each party’s percentage of the popular vote. They were then asked if they support or oppose moving towards a system of proportional representation in Canadian elections. Survey results reveal that two-thirds of Canadians (68 per cent) support moving towards a system of proportional representation; 19 per cent oppose, and 13 per cent are unsure.
- Atlantic residents are less supportive of moving towards a system of proportional representation in Canadian elections (60 per cent).
- Men (72 per cent), those under 35 years of age (77 per cent), and those with university education (74 per cent) are more likely to support proportional representation.
- Conservative supporters (54 per cent) are less supportive of moving to a system of proportional representation, while Green Party (87 per cent) and NDP (83 per cent) voters are most supportive.
Preferred Prime Minister stance on proportional representation
Respondents were also asked if they would like to see the future Prime Minister of Canada support moving towards proportional representation. Results reveal that that six in ten Canadians (61 per cent) agree with this idea, 16 per cent disagree, and 22 per cent are unsure.
- Atlantic residents are least likely to agree that the future Prime Minister should support moving towards proportional representation (50 per cent), while Quebec residents are most likely to agree with this idea (68 per cent).
- Men (66 per cent), those under 35 years of age (70 per cent), and those with university education (68 per cent) are more likely to agree that the future Prime Minister should move towards proportional representation.
- Conservative supporters (47 per cent) are least likely to agree with the PM moving to a system of proportional representation.
Appendix
Questionnaire
WINTRO
Thank you for agreeing to complete this survey. This will only take a few minutes of your time.
Please rest assured that your answers are completely confidential (this means that no individual will be associated with the survey's results - rather, they will be rolled up into large categories to protect the confidentiality of each respondent) and that this survey is voluntary.
INSTRUCTIONS Please consider the questions and your answers carefully.
On each screen, after selecting your answer, click on the "Continue" button at the bottom of the screen to move forward in the questionnaire.
If you leave the survey before completing it, you can return to the survey URL later, and you will be returned to the page where you left off. Your answers up to that point in the survey will be saved.
If you have any questions about how to complete the survey, please call EKOS at 1-866-211-8881 or email us at online@ekos.com. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Q1
Proportional representation means that the total number of seats held by each party in Parliament would be roughly equivalent to each party's percentage of the popular vote. Do you support or oppose moving towards a system of proportional representation in Canadian elections?
Strongly oppose 1
Somewhat oppose 2
Somewhat support 3
Strongly support 4
Don't know/No response 99 XB
Q2
Would you like to see the future Prime Minister of Canada support moving towards proportional representation?
Yes 1
No 2
Don't know/No response 9 B
QGENDR
The following questions will be used for statistical purposes only.
Are you...?
Male 1
Female 2
A transgender male 4 B
A transgender female 5 B
Non-binary 6 B
No response 99 B
QAGE
In what year were you born?
Note: answer the full year, i.e. 1977 as "1977"
Year 77
No response 99
QAGEY
Hesitant, QAGE
If... QAGE = 99
May we place your age into one of the following general age categories?
18-24 years 1
25-34 years 2
35-44 years 3
45-54 years 4
55-64 years 5
65 years or older 6
Prefer not to answer 99
QEDUC
What is the highest level of schooling that you have completed?
Grade 8 or less 1
Some high school 2
High School diploma or equivalent 3
Registered Apprenticeship or other trades certificate or diploma 4
College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma 5
University certificate or diploma below bachelor's level 6
Bachelor's degree 7
Post graduate degree above bachelor's level 8
No response 99
QPROV
In which province or territory do you live?
British Columbia 1
Alberta 2
Saskatchewan 3
Manitoba 4
Ontario 5
Quebec 6
New Brunswick 7
Nova Scotia 8
Prince Edward Island 9
Newfoundland and Labrador 10
Yukon 11
Northwest Territories 12
Nunavut 13
No response 99
QINC
What is your annual household income from all sources before taxes?
Less than $10,000 1
$10,000-$19,999 2
$20,000-$29,999 3
$30,000-$39,999 4
$40,000-$49,999 5
$50,000-$59,999 6
$60,000-$79,999 7
$80,000-$99,999 8
$100,000-$119,999 9
$120,000-$159,999 10
$160,000-$219,999 11
$220,000 or more 12
Don't know / No response 99
QVOTEA
If a federal election were held tomorrow, which party would you vote for?
Liberal Party 1
Conservative Party 2
New Democratic Party 3
Green Party 4
QPROV = 6
The Bloc Québécois 5
People's Party 6
Another party not listed here 7 B
Undecided 8 B
Not eligible to vote 9 B
Don't know/No response 99 B
QVOTEB
If... QVOTEA = 8
Even if you do not have a firm idea, are you leaning towards a party?
Yes 1
No 2
Don't know/No response 9 B
QVOTEC
If... QVOTEB = 1
As it stands, towards which party are you leaning?
Liberal Party 1
Conservative Party 2
New Democratic Party 3
Green Party 4
QPROV = 6
The Bloc Québécois 5
People's Party 6
Another party not listed here 7 B
Undecided 8 B
Don't know/No response 99 B
THNK
Those are all the questions we have for you. Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this survey, it is greatly appreciated. Your answers have been saved and you may now close your browser window.
EKOS RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, 2020 • 5