Louis Massicotte
Professor
Department of Political Science
Université Laval (Quebec)
What place for Québec?
The present study was undertaken in response to the current federal government’s intention to modify the rules that govern the allocation of seats in the House of Commons.
A brief history of the different formulas that have been used since Confederation is presented, as well as a list of the numerous infringements concerning the proper application of the principle of representation based on population. Historically, this question has been of little interest to Quebecers, except during the 1940s. Given that the current formula favours the provinces in relative demographic decline, such as Quebec, the latter has little to gain with the envisaged reform.
A comparative study including eleven other democratic federations places Canada among those where the allocation of seats between member entities is the least proportional to population. The infringements on the principle of proportionality that exist in Canada have little equivalence in other federations. Yet in light of the weakness of our second chamber, where small provinces are usually overrepresented, it is understandable that provinces in demographic decline aspire to conserve the advantage they presently hold in the House of Commons.
The declared intentions of the Harper government lead one to expect a decline of Quebec’s representation in the House. The present document examines two possible responses: maintaining the use of the current formula, or demanding a fixed floor of 25% of the total number seats.
