Friday, April 13, 2007

a fair distribution of seats in Canada

The representation in the house of commons has become ridiculous at this point. It is time to fix the numbers in the house

Currently this is what we have:

Alberta - 28 MPs, 3 431 000 people - 122 500 per MP
BC - 36 MPs, 4 310 000 people - 119 500 per MP
Ontario - 106 MPs, 12 687 000 people - 119 600 per MP
Quebec - 75 MPs, 7 651 000 people - 102 000 per MP
Nova Scotia - 11 MPs, 934 000 people - 85 000 per MP
Manitoba - 14 MPs, 1 118 000 people - 84 000 per MP
New Brunswick - 10 MPs, 749 200 people - 75 000 per MP
Newfoundland - 7 MPs, 509 700 people - 72 800 per MP
Saskatchewan - 14 MPs, 985 500 people - 70 400 per MP
NWT - 1 MP, 41 900 people - 41 900 per MP
PEI - 4 MPs, 138 500 people - 34 625 per MP
Yukin - 1 MP, 31 200 people - 31 200 per MP
Nunavut - 1 MP, 30 800 people - 30 800 per MP

We have a total population of 32 625 000 - 105 925 per MP

If we aim for an average of 100 000 per MP in most provinces, we get to

Ontario - 126 (+20)
Quebec - 76 (+1)
BC - 43 (+7)
Alberta - 34 (+6)
Nova Scotia - 10 (-1)
New Brunswick - 7, (-3) but without Senate reform 10 (can not be reduced)
Newfoundland - 5 (-2) but without Senate refrom 6 (-1) can not go lower
Manitoba - 11 (-3)
Saskatchewan - 10 (-4)
PEI - 1 (-3) but without Senate reform 4 - can not be lowered
North - 3- can not be reduced

Total - 326 (+18) but without Senate Refrom 333 (+25)

This would be moderately fair. Ultimately we have to change the constitution to change the Senate numbers.

Senate Current
Ontario - 24
Quebec - 24
Nova Scotia - 10
New Brunswick - 10
BC - 6
Alberta - 6
Saskatchewan -
Manitoba - 6
Newfoundland - 6
NWT - 1
Yukon - 1
Nunavut - 1

My proposal
Ontario - 30 (+6)
Qubec - 30 (+6)
BC - 15 (+9)
Alberta - 15 (+9)
Manitoba - 6
Saskatchewan - 6
Nova Scotia - 6 (-4)
New Brunswick - 4 (-6)
Newfoundland - 4 (-2)
PEI - 1 (-3)
NWT - 1
Yukon - 1
Nunavut - 1

Total 120 Senators

Over 5 000 000 get 30 Senators
2 000 000 to 5 000 000 get 15 Senators
Around 1 000 000 get 6 Senators
Under 900 000 but over 200 000 - 4 Senators
Under 200 000 - one Senators

Total House of Commons and Senate Represention now and in my proposal

Ontario - 130 - 156
Quebec - 99 - 106
BC - 42 - 58
Alberta - 34 - 49
Manitoba - 20 - 17
Saskatchewan - 20 - 16
Nova Scotia - 21 - 16
New Brunswick - 20 - 11
Newfoundland - 13 - 9
PEI - 8 - 2
North - 6 - 6

total 413 - 430

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