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Electoral Boundaries in Canada
How the riding districts are set up
The boundaries defining Canada's electoral ridings or districts
are designed to draw out a body of legislative representatives
(Members of Parliament) that reflect the country. The number
of districts allotted per province is intended to balance factors
such as geographic vastness, population density, and historical
prominence.
Number of Electoral Districts
The number of electoral districts is based on a formula that designates
seats to provinces in proportion to their population. In addition,
according to amendments to section 51 of the Constitution
Act, 1867, the rules ensure a minimum number of seats
per province: provinces are never to have less seats than they
had prior to March 6, 1986. Each territory, in turn, is entitled
to one electoral district.
There are two rules set out in the constitution that establish the
number of ridings in each province.
Rules
Rule 1: Provincial Quotient
Each province is allotted a number of representatives (MP's) equal
to the number reached by dividing the total population of all
the provinces by two hundred and seventy-nine (this is the number
of seats allotted to the provinces in 1986, when the law was
put in place). The population of the province is then divided
by the quotient so obtained, rounding up totals in excess of
0.5 as one additional seat.
Provincial Quotient = provincial pop. / [pop. of all provinces
/ 279]
For example, British Columbia has a population of 3,907,738, while
the population of all the provinces combined is 29,914,315, according
to Statistics Canada's 2001 census figures.
Therefore, BC's Parliamentary Seats = 3,907,738 / [29,914,315 /
279] = 36.45
So, BC is allotted 36 electoral districts in the upcoming election.
To find out more about the history and development of this process,
go to the Elections
Canada official Representation website.
Rule 2: Minimum Number of MP's Per Province
If the total number of members that would be assigned to a province
according to “Rule 1” is less than the total number assigned
to that province on the date of Constitution Act subsection 51
coming into force (March 6, 1986), the number of members will
be increased . This ensures that the province will still have
the same number of MP's as were assigned on that date. This rule
is also known as the “grandfather clause” [Senatorial Clause
and Grandfather Clause].
There are currently 301 electoral districts in Canada. This will
be modified for the 2004 federal election, according to the 2001
census figures.
Here is a breakdown of the current number of ridings per province.
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 7
- Prince Edward Island: 4
- Nova Scotia: 11
- New Brunswick: 10
- Quebec: 75
- Ontario: 103
- Manitoba: 14
- Saskatchewan: 14
- Alberta: 26
- British Columbia: 34
- Yukon Territory: 1
- Northwest Territories: 1
- Nunavut: 1
- CANADA: 301
Find your riding, go to the official
Elections Canada district map website:
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