FELDSTED: The problem as we witness every day is that regional, and personal equality, is thrown under the election bus

Sixty-one electoral districts?

City of Vancouver

The most fiercely contested territory in the October Election will be in 61 federal electoral districts. These will be the 18 in Montreal ... 25 in Toronto ... and 128 in Vancouver.

These sixty-one electoral districts make up 18% of the seats in the House of Commons, but are vital to any political party seeking a majority government.

Quebec has 8 cities outside Montreal which add another 30 electoral districts.

... 48 of 78 Quebec electoral district, or 61.5%, are urban.

Ontario has 16 cities outside Toronto which add another 67 electoral districts.

...92 of 121 Ontario electoral districts, or 55.4%, are urban.

British Columbia has 4 cities outside Vancouver which add another 10 electoral districts.

... 28 of 42 British Columbia electoral districts, or 66.7%, are urban

Toronto with CN Tower in foreground

The urban ridings in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia account for just over half (50.1%) of the seats in the Commons.  Which is why every political party will throw major resources, manpower, (cash if you are in government) and promises of more cash into those urban electoral districts to secure seats -- and a majority government.

The problem, as we witness every day, is that regional and personal equality is thrown under the election bus. Political parties will be driven to favour vote rich areas rather than treat all provinces, cities, towns and people equally and fairly.

One solution to the problem is to convert our three major metropolitan areas, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver into separate provinces with full provincial rights.

It sounds a bit strange, until we consider the effect on the amending formula in our constitution:

Montreal City

• 7 of 10 provinces becomes 9 of 13 provinces representing 50% of the population, with many more possible combinations than we have at present.

• the equalization formula would have to be changed, modernized and updated to accommodate 13 provinces; and

• more per capita federal funding for education, health care and welfare would flow to other provinces and smaller centres.  

There is some food for thought.  

John Feldsted

Political Consultant & Strategist

Winnipeg, Manitoba