Van Loan defends Commons seat distribution
By Bill Rea

There are concerns that Ontario is getting shortchanged in the proposed redistribution of seats in the House of Commons.

The proposal, put forth by the federal government, would see Ontario get 10 more seats, while British Columbia is slated to get an additional seven representatives and Alberta would get another five.

That's not fair, according to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, who's been maintaining the province will be 11 seats short of where it should be in the new House configuration, and he's letting the feds know it.

But York-Simcoe MP, Government House Leader and minister responsible for democratic reform Peter Van Loan said the current formula for apportioning seats would give Ontario just four more. This new formula is aimed at helping inequities in the representation in these three fast-growing provinces.

Otherwise, Ontario will only get four more seats, notwithstanding its considerable growth, he observed.

"It's an unusual argument, because we are giving Ontario more seats," Van Loan said, adding McGuinty wants more on top of that, without any regard for the necessary legislation getting passed.

He also observed that McGuinty has never raised a fuss before over Ontario being under-represented, adding the premier himself passed legislation giving Northern Ontario an extra seat at Queen's Park, violating the concept of representation by population. Southern Ontario is now 44 per cent under represented in the provincial legislature, he observed.

York-Simcoe MPP Julia Munro wasn't impressed with McGuinty's stand either, pointing out he ran on the idea of maintaining the extra seat for Northern Ontario, and he's changed his tune, now that the issue is on another stage.

"It's such a difficult problem, in terms of balancing," Munro said, pointing out there are two ways to look at proper representation in the House; regional and representation by population.

"I think rep by pop is always going to be a moving target," she said.

Munro also commented the most important question deals with the quality of people elected to these seats, adding that's more important than trying to get a mediocre person elected.

Van Loan said the Liberals in Ottawa had originally indicated they would support the government's plan, but now it looks like they'll oppose it. He added the Bloc Quebecois is opposed simply because they're against the other three provinces getting more seats.

"We don't yet know where the NDP stands," he said.

"All you need is the support of one party," Van loan added. "With the NDP, we've got enough votes."

He also said there are some Grits who might end up supporting it.

"The Liberal party has shown quiet lines of division on a range of issues," he said.

Assuming the legislation passes, Van Loan said it wouldn't likely take effect until the anticipated 2014 election.

The actual slotting of the ridings would depend a lot on the results of the 2011 Census.