MPs should represent people, not geography

Quebec denounces, Western premiers praise, plan to enlarge House of Commons

http://bit.ly/kBZEj9

There is some merit in saying Canada needs to ensure minimum local representation even if that means some seats are elected on small voter bases.

So, for example, there needs to be (and is) an MP from Nunavut even though the population would not justify it in, say, southern Ontario. The Maritimes may well have a similar justification for more MPs than their population would otherwise suggest.

Similarly, Quebec needs to have a significant voice in Parliament.

But under the reforms as they appear now (and yes details are important) Quebec still has a legitimate voice and the North and Maritimes are not marginalized.

Broadly speaking there should be one Member of Parliament for 110,000 people.

Variations from that are needed in unusual circumstances (see Nunavut) and variations will arise where populations shift (see, for example, the rapid growth in Oshawa).

But overall, there should be MPs to represent people - not MPs to represent geography. So long as the newly created Ridings are set up in a non-political way they are totally appropriate.

The Globe writes:

"The Harper government's plan to enlarge the House of Commons has touched a raw nerve with Jean Charest's Quebec government, even as Western premiers praise the idea.
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The premiers are reacting to news that the Conservative government plans to introduce legislation this fall to increase the number of MPs from Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, so that their growing populations are properly reflected in the House of Commons.
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Enough of that, said Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach on Thursday.

"Our representation should reflect the size of our growing population – just as it should in any province," he said in a statement. "To not allow this is to tell Albertans they are not equal to other Canadian voters."
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But the new legislation could see Quebec's share of the total seats in the House of Commons drop below its current level of 24 per cent, which is slightly above the 23 per cent that is province's share of the national population.

"We are opposed to any decrease in Quebec's weight in federal institutions including the House of Commons," Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Pierre Moreau told The Globe and Mail Thursday night.
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Mr. Moreau said Premier Jean Charest recently reiterated Quebec's position to Prime Minister Harper and was baffled by Ottawa's insistence on moving to revamp Parliament against Quebec's will.
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Veteran NDP MP Joe Comartin argued that any redistribution must ensure that Quebec receives a minimum 25 per cent of the seats in that House, its traditional share. The NDP is now the dominant party in Quebec at the federal level.