House of Commons to Get 30 More Seats

Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and, of course, Quebec, to get a democratic upgrade.

The Conservative government has unveiled its plan to expand the House of Commons by 30 seats, with Ontario, B.C., Alberta, and Quebec each getting slices of the parliamentary pie. Tim Uppal, the minister of state for democratic reform, released the new arrangement today, saying it will bring better political representation to regions of the country whose populations have grown substantially in recent years. Under the new plan, Ontario will get 15 more seats, B.C. and Alberta will each get six, and Quebec will get three. The rearrangement keeps Quebec's representation in the House at 23.2 per cent of Parliament, despite having a population that makes up a smaller proportion of the nation's population. If passed, the changes will come into effect in time for the 2015 election, at a cost of $14.8 million per year.