New Bill To Give Alberta, B.C And Ontario Extra Commons Seats (Restoring Rep By Pop To H0fC Alert)

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071113/bill_seats_071113/20071113?hub=TopStories ^ | 11/13/2007 | Canadian Press

[goldstategop]

OTTAWA -- The Federal Government is set to introduce a bill that would give Alberta, B.C., and Ontario extra seats in the House of Commons.

The bill to be tabled Wednesday would add 22 seats to the Commons, which currently has only 308.

It would give Alberta five extra seats, while B.C. gets seven and Ontario receives 10.

These provinces would get more seats after the 2011 census to reflect their population growth.

Provinces whose growth is static or even dwindling would keep the seats they have now.

The bill is essentially an amendment to the Constitution, but because it deals solely with seats in the Commons, it can be done unilaterally by Parliament without any need for consultation with the provinces.

The legislation would change the complex mathematical formula used to allocate Commons seats.

That formula, last adjusted in 1985, would have added seven new seats to the Commons after the next census and raised the seat total to 315.

[goldstategop]

This is a long overdue change to Canada's Constitution that amends a 1985 House Of Commons apportionment formula to make it more closely follow the representation by population principle. Fast growing provinces like British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario would gain more seats that reflect their population growth. At the same time, provinces with stable or declining populations would keep all the seats they have now.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Why are provinces with declining population retaining seats? Just wondering!

[goldstategop]

The Canadian Constitution guarantees provinces retain their seats unless the population loss is more than 5%. A second formula guarantees each province as many seats as it has in the Senate. Obviously if the Canadian Senate is ever abolished, a new base plus guarantee formula will have to be established. So while the House Of Commons is based on a representation by population principle, that is somewhat constrained to make sure every province has an equal voice in Canada's elected house, the one to which the Government is collectively responsible.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus