* From Mapleleafweb.com

Canada's New Electoral Boundaries

by Scott Fogden

April 6, 2004

Political pundits predict Paul Martin will call an election soon. But this
year's election will look slightly different. The political map of Canada
has literally been redrawn.

It has been estimated that one-in-five Canadians move each year. Therefore,
every ten years (after each Statistics Canada census), representation in
the House of Commons is readjusted to reflect the constantly changing and
moving Canadian population. This process is set out in the 1867
Constitution Act and is supplemented by the Electoral Boundaries
Readjustment Act.

Increasingly, however, Canada's electoral system is up for debate. Critics
have objected to the current first past the post' electoral system for
decades. While this system rewards the candidate receiving the most
electoral district votes (and therefore, that candidate's political party),
the resulting distribution of parliamentary seats does not always reflect
the popular opinion of Canadians.

To find out more about electoral reform and the first past the post system,
read the Law Commission of Canada report on electoral reform. Commissions
have also been set up in British Columbia and Prince Edward Island to
review their respective voting systems.

In the meantime, the 2004 federal election will go ahead under the current
rules, but with a new set of electoral districts. This feature will outline
the new ridings, how they were set up, and any possible ramifications for
the 2004 election.


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