The Conservative government in Ottawa is making its second attempt to bring the House of Commons closer to the principle of representation-by-population by adding seats to the faster growing provinces (Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia). This time, the Conservatives appear to have got it about right.
In their first attempt three years ago, the Conservatives cheated Ontario by giving this province only 10 more seats when its projected population (after the 2011 census) warranted around 20. The move encountered stiff opposition from Ontario, which prompted one federal Conservative to call Premier Dalton McGuinty "the small man of Confederation." After the dust cleared, the Conservatives quietly dropped the legislation.
The bill introduced in the Commons Thursday appears to address McGuinty's objections by adding a projected 18 seats to Ontario's current total of 106. Alberta would get five more seats and B.C., seven.
Now the question is whether the bill will win enough support from the opposition parties in the minority Parliament to become law.
The Bloc Québécois is inalterably opposed, as the added seats would further dilute Quebec's presence in the Commons.
The Liberals and New Democrats? One would think they would support the bill, given their base of support in Ontario, not to mention B.C. But both opposition parties, presumably fearful of alienating Quebec, are equivocating on the measure.
The Liberals say they need more time to study this "complex" legislation (which is actually quite simple). "It is up to the government to explain why they have chosen this particular formula as opposed to all the other possibilities," said a spokesperson, without outlining what those "other possibilities" are.
As for the New Democrats, they say there must be more consultation on the issue with the aim of building a "consensus." But given Quebec's implacable opposition, building a consensus is a pipe dream.
It is time for the Liberal and NDP MPs both to remember where they were elected and to stand up for the principle of rep-by-pop. They should get off the fence and back this bill.