Numbers of seats in Parliament are related to a province’s population. Following that principle three provinces – Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta – will receive more seats. So to accomodate them the Harper government is planning to increase the number of seats in the Commons from 308 to 338.
This creates an anamoly. It means that Quebec would have a lesser share of Commons seats (22.1 per cent) than its share of the Canadian population (23.1 per cent)/ Opposition parties in the Commons are generally favourable to the idea of giving Quebec special dispensation in the allocation of Commons seats.
An NDP proposal says Quebec’s representation should be fixed at 24.4 per cent of Commons seats. The Bloc will go along with that and the Liberals are leaning that way.
This proposal for a few extra Quebec seats makes a lot of sense. It would not create a precedent and would not require a constitutional amendment.
Should Quebec have more seats in Ottawa?
What do you think?