Caltorguy

Canada's Snap Election Could Affect ETF

Canada has almost never had coalition governments - our "first past the post" electoral system (like England's) is designed to produce majority governments that control parliament and usually does. You only need to have a plurality of voters in a majority of ridings (electoral districts) to win, which with 5 parties can be as little as 30% (but is usually 40% or so). Harper got 36% last time around - he is hoping to get 40% this time which would give him his majority. In Canada it is hard to imagine a centre-right government getting 50% or more.