The Conservative government is promising to pass legislation soon that will give Alberta and British Columbia six new seats each by the 2015 election to get them closer to proper representation.
Along with 15 new seats planned for suburban Ontario, it is expected the expanded parliamentary base could be fertile political ground for the Conservatives.
Despite its relatively stable population, Quebec also receives three additional seats under the terms of Bill C-20.
Still, the Quebec-dominated New Democratic Party opposition is opposing the proposal, arguing that it would reduce Quebec’s influence in national politics because Ontario and the West will receive more seats.
Read Also
Farmers urged to be grain-safe this fall
Working around grain bins comes with risk, from farmers falling to drowning in grain: Experts have five tips to help avoid grain-related accidents this harvest.
“Given its status as a nation within a united Canada, Quebec has a special place and we must reflect that,” New Democrat Alexandrine Latendresse said during debate Nov. 2.
In fact, the House of Commons recognized the Québecois people as a nation in a vote several years ago but not the province.
Still, that vote has become an NDP clarion call for special electoral status for Quebec.
Last week after two days of parliamentary debate, the government cut off discussion and sent the bill to committee for examination.
Under the terms of an aggressive Conservative agenda of legislative action, it wants the bill through Parliament by the end of the year so the seat redistribution can be in effect for the next election in four years.
The new seats for Quebec will give the province slightly more House of Commons representation than its population warrants.
Ontario, Alberta and B.C. still would be under-represented compared to their population. Smaller provinces with large rural bases, including Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Atlantic Canada, would be overrepresented compared to their populations and will remain so since the legislation guarantees that no province can lose seats.
Still, the NDP vowed to oppose the bill because it gives too much power to the rest of Canada and not enough to Quebec.
The bill would expand the House of Commons “in a way that would increase regional tensions in Canad a” and “ignores the principle unanimously adopted in this place that the Québecois represent a nation within a united Canada,” said Latendresse.
The Conservatives made a concession to early Quebec complaints by adding three seats to their 75 in the House, raising some complaints within caucus that the additional Quebec seats distort the idea that the bill is meant to make parliamentary representation more accurately reflect population.
The government argument is that Quebec should keep its representation in Parliament based on its traditional share of the Canadian population.
Liberals in the Commons also have argued against the legislation.
