2022 Canadian federal electoral redistribution

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The Constitution of Canada requires that federal electoral districts undergo a redistribution of seats following each decennial Canadian census.[1] The redistribution process tied to the 2021 Canadian census is set to begin in October 2021, and is expected to be completed in September 2023.[2] The changes will not take effect until 2024 at the earliest.[3]

The current redistribution formula is set out in Section 51 of the Constitution Act, 1867.[4] Section 52 permits additional seats to be added to the House of Commons provided proportionate representation between the provinces is maintained.[4]

To redistribute the electoral boundaries within each province, ten independent electoral boundary commissions will be established, one for each province. The commissions will each will be made up of three members. One member will be appointed by the chief justice of each province and two members will be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons.[5][6] Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon do not require commissions as each territory is allotted only a single electoral district.[1][7]

Seat change[]

The allocation of seats to the provinces and territories is based on rules in the Constitution of Canada as well as estimates of the Canadian population on July 1, 2021 made by Statistics Canada.[2] The Chief Electoral Officer announced the allocation of seats on 15 October 2021.[3]

Province or territory Current seats 2022 seats[3] Change
 Ontario 121 122 1 Increase
 Quebec 78 77 1 Decrease
 British Columbia 42 43 1 Increase
 Alberta 34 37 3 Increase
 Manitoba 14 14 Steady
 Saskatchewan 14 14 Steady
 Nova Scotia 11 11 Steady
 New Brunswick 10 10 Steady
 Newfoundland and Labrador 7 7 Steady
 Prince Edward Island 4 4 Steady
 Northwest Territories 1 1 Steady
 Nunavut 1 1 Steady
 Yukon 1 1 Steady
 Canada 338 342 4 Increase

Potential changes to seat distribution[]

Notwithstanding the Chief Electoral Officer's announcement, Parliament retains certain power to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 and thus the redistricting process.[8] Such a change occurred during the last redistribution.[7] Amendments affecting proportionate representation between the provinces, however, require support of seven provinces representing at least 50% of the population of Canada.[8]

Several days after the Chief Electoral Officer's allocation, Quebec Minister Sonia LeBel said that Quebec's "special status" as Canada's "only francophone province" meant that the province must not lose any seats.[9][10] She said the province represents one of the "founding peoples of Canada" saying that represents much more than "a simple calculation of population".[10] In November 2021, both the Premier of Quebec François Legault and the Bloc Québécois also called for Quebec to maintain its current number of seats (78).[11][12]

The same month, The Toronto Star editorial board called for further seats to be added in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, to provide fair representation for voters in those provinces.[13] It also said calls to institute a minimum threshold of seats for Quebec should be rejected.[13] The Globe and Mail's editorial board also called on Parliament add additional seats to ensure the principle of "one person, one vote" would be realized.[14]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Canada, Elections (2021-08-13). "Redistribution of Federal Electoral Districts 2022". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  2. ^ a b Canada, Elections (2021-08-12). "Timeline for the Redistribution of Federal Electoral Districts". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  3. ^ a b c "New House of Commons Seat Allocation" (Press release). Gatineau: Elections Canada. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b The Constitution Act, 1867, 30 & 31 Victoria (U.K.), c. 3, http://canlii.ca/t/ldsw retrieved on 2019-03-14.
  5. ^ Canada, Elections (2021-08-13). "The role of the electoral boundaries commissions in the federal redistribution process". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  6. ^ Aiello, Rachel (2021-10-15). "House of Commons will get 4 additional seats as early as 2024". CTV News. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  7. ^ a b Qualter, Terence; Wilson, John (2015-09-18). "Redistribution of Federal Electoral Districts". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  8. ^ a b Bryden, Joan (5 November 2021). "Ottawa needs support from majority of provinces to guarantee Quebec's share of Commons seats". CBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  9. ^ Yakabuski, Konrad (20 October 2021). "House of Commons redistribution proposal is a time bomb for Justin Trudeau". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  10. ^ a b Lévesque, Catherine (20 October 2021). "Quebec will push not to lose seat in House of Commons". The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  11. ^ Woolf, Marie; Serebrin, Jacob (22 October 2021). "Quebec premier says Trudeau must ensure province does not lose a seat". CBC News. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  12. ^ Coyne, Andrew (26 November 2021). "Quebec objects to one person, one vote in principle. Canada merely fails to practise it". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  13. ^ a b Star Editorial Board (26 November 2021). "Voters in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta don't get fair representation in Parliament. That must change". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  14. ^ Editorial Board (20 November 2021). "One person, one vote is the basis of democracy. How about bringing it to Canada?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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