VICTORIA – New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix called Stephen Harper’s redistribution plan to favor Alberta and Quebec over British Columbia unfair.
“Under this plan, B.C. will still not receive its full measure of representation in the House of Commons,” said Dix.
“B.C. gets six additional seats, instead of seven under the 2010 proposal, while both Alberta and Quebec receive more seats than they did under the earlier plan.
“Under this plan, B.C. will continue to be inadequately represented in the House of Commons, while remaining dramatically under-represented in the Senate.”
Dix pointed out that true representation by population would provide B.C. with nine additional seats, three more than the six under the proposed legislation.
“I will be writing to the Prime Minister to tell him B.C. needs more representation than the inadequate offer tabled today.”
Under the new redistribution formula, Ontario will receive an additional 15 seats, Alberta will receive an additional 6 seats, one more than initially recommended, while British Columbia will receive only an additional 6 seats while it was supposed to get seven under the initial plan.
