Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

[Muley69]

Did any of you see the report that came out this week indicating that B.C. and Alberta (combined) have 35,000 more residents than Quebec...but that le belle province has 11 more MPs than our two provinces do.


A lot was made about "Elections Canada" needing to redraw the electoral boundaries to fix this discrepancy. Now...I don't disagree. Most of the "electoral reform issues" that we out West have with the current political system likely don't need a solution such as "electing senators" or the like.

Instead, the issue is that we are -- statistically -- under represented out west.


And while I agree with what the report was saying...I did find it odd that the news media FAILED to point out that the MARITIMES have a WAY greater disproportionality in MPs-to-residents.

In a way, I think the media sorta slammed on Quebec (i.e. English vs. French)and was irresponsible to point out the electoral discrepancies with the West and the Maritimes.

Any thoughts?

[earl2]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

My thoughts: Western Canada has always gotten the shaft from Ottawa and we will continue to get the shaft.

[BaronAmongYou]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

It's not entirely relevant, but I like to post this every once in a while.

So far this year Ottawa has stolen $8.3 billion dollars from Alberta. This is on top of all normal taxes Ottawa imposes on us. My question is this: Do you feel you've received equal value from Canada compared to what you have contributed to her?

[eskimojones]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

It's not entirely relevant, but I like to post this every once in a while.

So far this year Ottawa has stolen $8.3 billion dollars from Alberta. This is on top of all normal taxes Ottawa imposes on us. My question is this: Do you feel you've received equal value from Canada compared to what you have contributed to her?

Excellent point.

Quebec has less residents and more seats. The majority of those seats are held my anti-canadian politicians. Why should we allow Quebec to spend millions of our dollars trying to seperate? It makes no sense to me. The less seats in Quebec, the less we p!ss away on seperation, and the less we have to worry about another referendum. This situation should be addressed immediately.

Vive le Canada!

[Steve Vale]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

I may be incorrect with this - but I believe that as part of their entrance into Confederation, PEI was guaranteed at least 4 seats...even though many our respective ridings are nearly the same population size as the entire province.

Seats will have to increase to make up the gap...and as sure as the sun rises, there won't be any giving up of seats.

The same argument can be made in most provinces, where the rural riding population size is smaller than the urban ones.

[Muley69]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

It's not entirely relevant, but I like to post this every once in a while.

So far this year Ottawa has stolen $8.3 billion dollars from Alberta. This is on top of all normal taxes Ottawa imposes on us. My question is this: Do you feel you've received equal value from Canada compared to what you have contributed to her?

The way transfer payments work is that we (residents) send our income tax to the Feds in Ottawa. They send the provincial income tax back to the provincial governments.

Then, the rest of the federal money is spent on federal programs. Due to our wealth and economy, Alberta gets less money on federally funded programs such as E.I.

In other words...the Alberta government DOES NOT "CUT A CHEQUE" to the Feds for transfer payments. It is simply how the Federal government chooses to spend the tax revenue they collect which they are allowed under the income tax arrangement of this country.



Quite frankly, if Ottawa is spending more money on this province it means we aren't doing good.

[fivedaytrial]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

imo the west has been keeping this country afloat ,we deserve better representation in ottawa i am not for representaion by population it's bogus

[earl2]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

Seats will have to increase to make up the gap...

Great. Just what we need. More politicians...










































Sorry MG, but you know it's true.

[Muley69]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

308 MP's is just too many...

But then again, I know a lot of politicians that do a hell of a job for their constituents.


MG knows it's true.

[Steve Vale]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

308 MP's is just too many...

I agree. I mean there's nearly no one living north of 60, so why not just merge Yukon, Western and Eastern Arctic together? - There's a savings of 2 MPs right there

[MoneyGuy]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

Great. Just what we need. More politicians...

Sorry MG, but you know it's true.

Can't disagree with you. The really good politicians are muni.

[MoneyGuy]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

308 MP's is just too many...

But then again, I know a lot of politicians that do a hell of a job for their constituents.

MG knows it's true.

Darn right. What's going on here. I come back on line to almost 1,000 new posts (that's what an Esks' win will do) and folks are talking about me in several posts.

[earl2]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

Darn right. What's going on here. I come back on line to almost 1,000 new posts (that's what an Esks' win will do) and folks are talking about me in several posts.

Well you weren't around to talk about yourself, so somebody had to pick up the slack...

[MoneyGuy]

Re: Alberta and B.C. -- More seats in parliament?

Well you weren't around to talk about yourself, so somebody had to pick up the slack...

Well, I am modest. Thanks for noticing. Oh, can I have a TV crew visit to do a story on that shrine in your basement?