Quebec should gain seats in federal riding distribution: Blanchet

Yves-François Blanchet says Quebec deserves extra seats in Ottawa, not fewer, as proposed by Elections Canada.

The Bloc Québécois chief says as Quebec is formally acknowledged as a nation, it deserves one other MP in Parliament.

Blanchet says that Elections Canada’s proposal to strip Quebec of a seat in a forthcoming shakeup of boundaries will scale back the facility of Quebecers.

He needs a “nation clause” inserted within the regulation on illustration to ensure Quebec’s energy in Parliament is protected.

A ten-year evaluate of the variety of seats in Canada — which follows the census and elements in inhabitants adjustments — will improve the variety of MPs from 338 to 342.

Quebec is the one province to lose a seat within the evaluate, transferring from 78 MPs to 77.

Alberta is gaining three extra seats, Ontario one and B.C. one, whereas different provinces and territories will preserve the identical variety of MPs.

Blanchet says Quebec ought to have one other seat — not lose one — giving Quebec 79 MPs.