Adjusting Federal Electoral Boundaries in Canada: Redistribution 2022

This article describes the general process of decennial federal electoral boundaries redistribution in Canada under section 51(1) of the Constitution Act, 1867 and the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, which takes about two years from when the Chief Electoral Officer calculates the number of MPs per province to when the Governor General proclaims the Representation Order.

J.W.J. Bowden

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When Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Comes to PROC

Article 4 / 11 , Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring)

When Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Comes to PROC

Changes to Canada’s federal electoral boundaries affect every person living in a particular riding. Yet, the process for changing boundaries occurs only once every 10 years. As such, a generalized unfamiliarity tends to exist among the public, as well as members of Parliament, about how the process functions and unfolds. There is only an upside to having every Canadian gain a better understanding of the steps that are taken to determine in what riding they will live, and who else will reside in that riding with them. In this article, the author first explains how this process unfolds under Canada’s Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act (EBRA), including the important role played by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC). He then offers some observations about the 2022 readjustments.

Andre Barnes

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The Surprising Case of Public Participation and Social Media Usage in Canada’s Redistribution Process

Article 5 / 11 , Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring)

The Surprising Case of Public Participation and Social Media Usage in Canada’s Redistribution Process

During each electoral boundary redistribution process, members of the public are invited to provide feedback to the commissions’ proposed reforms to federal electoral boundaries. While participation rates in public consultation processes during the 20th century are reportedly low, little research has examined participation rates in the 21st century. Additionally, how public participation has been affected by the creation of redistribution social media accounts for the 2023 process is not yet understood. This article seeks to address these gaps. The results show that while (formal) public participation in the process has increased in the 21st century, a closer examination of the data shows there has been a mild decrease in participation for 2023 in comparison to 2013. However, if comments submitted through social media to the commissions are included, then participation rates for the 2023 process increase substantially compared to past decades.

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Public Involvement in Redistribution: A Reflection

Article 6 / 11 , Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring)

Public Involvement in Redistribution: A Reflection

The Canadian Constitution requires that federal electoral districts be reviewed after each decennial census to reflect population changes. This process, known as redistribution, has two phases: representation and readjustment. Public participation is a crucial stage in the readjustment process. The Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act requires each boundary commission to hold at least one public hearing in the province after the boundary commission develops an initial map proposal. This article offers a reflection on the involvement of the public in the most recent redistribution process. The data in this paper is collated from the 2022 reports of the 10 boundary commissions; data collected from the 2012 redistribution is also used as context. The starting place for analysis will be the work of John Courtney where he draws several conclusions about the involvement of the public in his foundational analysis of boundary commissions prior to 1994. Since it has been almost 20 years since the publication of these works, this gives us an opportunity to reflect on those conclusions using the most recent processes.

Tamara A. Small

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The Right to Effective Representation: Nova Scotia’s Exceptional Constituencies Model and the Chéticamp Region

Article 7 / 11 , Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring)

The Right to Effective Representation: Nova Scotia’s Exceptional Constituencies Model and the Chéticamp Region

This article explores the current debate in Nova Scotia over whether to create a so-called protected, or exceptional, provincial constituency for the Acadian population of Chéticamp. In addition to having been a controversial issue before the most recent provincial Electoral Boundaries Commission, the matter is currently before the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. The author contends that this matter raises fundamental questions about both the normative and institutional requirements of the right to effective representation as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The article addresses these issues by analyzing the model Nova Scotia has implemented to ensure effective representation of Acadian and African Nova Scotians. The author concludes the analysis by explaining why he believes a protected constituency for the Acadian region of Chéticamp is consistent with Nova Scotia’s model of effective representation.

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Voter Parity and the Quest for Effective Representation in the Yukon

Article 8 / 11 , Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring)

Voter Parity and the Quest for Effective Representation in the Yukon

In 2018, a bill attempting to establish new electoral boundaries in the Yukon following the recommendations of an electoral district boundary commission was defeated at second reading. As a result, the electoral boundaries in the territory remain the same as the ones established in 2008 despite population changes which have created significant variance within some of these districts. Legislation to establish boundaries recommended by a newly created electoral district boundaries commission will need to pass by spring 2025 if they are to be in place in time for the next general election (scheduled for November 3, 2025). In this article, the author describes the history of electoral district boundary commissions in the territory since the advent of partisan politics, explains why the recommendations in 2018 were not accepted, and outlines what he believes to be the two primary considerations the new commission must reconcile: providing fair and effective representation for rural communities and ensuring voter parity for Whitehorse area districts.

Floyd McCormick

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The Canadian Scene

Article 9 / 11 , Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring)

The Canadian Scene

New Clerk of the House of Commons

On December 18, 2023, Eric Janse was appointed the new Clerk of the House of Commons. Mr. Janse had been serving as Acting Clerk since February 2023, following the retirement of former Clerk Charles Robert.

Of the appointment, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “Mr. Janse is a dedicated public servant with a proven track record of providing reliable, non-partisan advice. I am confident that he will continue to be a valuable asset in helping uphold the integrity of the House of Commons and ensuring the efficiency of its proceedings.”

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Legislative Reports

Article 10 / 11 , Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring)

Legislative Reports

Nova Scotia

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Selflessly Stepping Aside: One MPP’s Kindness for Another’s “Double Crown”

Article 11 / 11 , Vol. 47 No. 1 (Spring)

Selflessly Stepping Aside: One MPP’s Kindness for Another’s “Double Crown”

Ontario’s first two women Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) faced a dilemma. Who would be sworn in first? The woman whose last name gave her priority? Or the woman who, if sworn in first, would be known as the first woman parliamentarian elected federally and provincially in Ontario? This is the story of one woman’s selflessness and two women’s pathbreaking achievement.

Kaitlin Gallant

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Parliamentary Relatives: New Brunswick’s Carr Brothers

Article 1 / 11 , Vol 46 No. 4 (Winter)

Parliamentary Relatives: New Brunswick’s Carr Brothers

With more than 34 years of parliamentary service combined, the Carr brothers are New Brunswick’s version of a political dynasty.

Jody was the first to enter provincial politics. He was just 23 years old when he won the seat for Oromocto-Gagetown in 1999 during Bernard Lord’s Progressive Conservative landslide. He held the riding for 19 years, serving as Minister for the departments of Education and Early Childhood Development and Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, before deciding not to re-offer in 2018. He is now a lawyer in Fredericton.

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