Sly Liberal Machinations

The 1982 Constitution sets out requirements for proportional representation in the House of Commons, where population density results in a greater number of elected representatives to Parliament than areas with considerably fewer numbers of people whose regional interests are to be represented. It has been common knowledge for a number of years that there is a current imbalance between regions of the country with respect to representation of members of Parliament.

And it has been acknowledged fairly generally that a re-alignment must take place, although to date, nothing concrete has been done about the situation. In previous Liberal-led governments there was a bit of a conundrum; increase the number of seats in cities such as Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, and see some decrease in representation from Quebec? Troubling prospect. Rumbles of discontent. Traditions upturned.

Oh dear, that would never do. Since, of course, Quebec would be furious, and traditionally it has been the Quebec vote that has granted Liberals their majority governments. Lest it not be properly understood just how injured Quebec would feel, the Bloc Quebecois and the federal Liberals (read: Michael Ignatieff) have warned how upsetting it would be to lessen the current 24%-Quebec Parliamentary seats.

Quebec would most certainly not take kindly to losing its Parliamentary influence, simply because of the inconvenient reality of an increase in population elsewhere in the country. Even if Quebec is predominately occupied with putting the rest of Canada on notice interminably, that it is a nation in and of itself, and ultimately sees separation and full autonomy on the horizon.

"It's clear that when the population increases in a province, there must be a change in the distribution of seats, but we must also maintain a good balance with Quebec", Michael Ignatieff piously intones. "We cannot play partisan games with this, because of (concerns of) national unity of the country."

Ah, the Liberals tout the necessity to kowtow to Quebec, and they may play their traditional partisan games because having done so and continuing to do so they remain the favoured party (absent the Bloc votes) in the province. The Conservative-led government is placed on notice that now is not the right time - there may never be a right time - to re-jig seats on a proportional basis.

Yes, it should be done eventually, and eventually it may become reality. But the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper is put on stern notice that national unity will be threatened should it proceed to increase the electoral presence of the voting public in Ontario and Western Canada, reflecting their growing numbers. Particularly before the next election. Particularly given polling numbers.

Legislation for that very purpose is being considered. And Quebec is alert to the inevitability of their weakened control over Parliament through fewer allocations, and this will arouse their ire. Oh dear to that, too.