Harper in dispute with McGuinty over number of seats

[slowpoke]

Harper is adding more federal seats for the growing provinces but Ontario is getting less than its share. I'm sure the Ontario voters will remember this one when the next election rolls around. The number of seats added for Alberta and BC are in line with their population growth but the additional seats for Ontario do not reflect our growing population to the same extent as the others. Ontario will end up with more people per riding than anywhere else in Canada. Coincidence??? I don't think so!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071116.wseats16/BNStory/National/home

..."But in a television interview, Mr. Van Loan shed some light on why the legislation is designed to leave Ontario under-represented. "The reason for not having the full top-up for Ontario is that Ontario already has the most seats in the House of Commons. Ontario does very well, but we don't want to have so many politicians that there's no room in this House."

 

[red]

they could reduce the total and give ontario its due share

 

[LancsLad]

they could reduce the total and give ontario its due share

That would make too much sense for any government to consider.

 

[slowpoke]

they could reduce the total and give ontario its due share

Apparently they can add seats where there is growth in provincial populations but they never seem to take seats away from a province where the population is falling. Van Loan's excuse that there isn't enough room in the house is nonsense. McGuinty is right to complain about this.

 

[train]

I think redistribution would be better than just adding seats.

Hard to argue for giving Ontario more seats after what they voted in provincially and in the City of Toronto


Just kidding slowpoke.

 

[TQM]

Come on guys,

This is just showing how fair and impartial Harper can be. Harper is a master at being fair and impartial - or more particularly, he's a master at being selectively fair and impartial.


Think this would have happened under a Liberal government?

 

[TQM]

Sheik,

Now that you've made that clear - that you favour straightforward undemocratic principles when you don't get the results you favour - feel free to fuck off.

 

[red]

If it results in sending less liberals to ottawa, I'm in favour of it.

you would rather keep all the liberals in toronto?

 

[TQM]

Get rid of the senate, for all I care.

It's Liberal dominated because Canadians so often deliver Liberal govts.

And it wasn't meant to be democratic - it was designed to give poorly populated regions more say. But I'm all too glad to put PEI in its place.

But to suggest that since the Senate is undemocratic that we need less democracy is just silly.

 

[train]

This is just showing how fair and impartial Harper can be. Harper is a master at being fair and impartial - or more particularly, he's a master at being selectively fair and impartial.


Think this would have happened under a Liberal government?

Yes, of course it would have except the Liberals can't do it anymore because the Bloc stole Quebec when they weren't looking. Dispite all the bribes.


One has to wonder why McSquint is fighting this fight for the Federal Libs rather than Dion or Iggy ? Are they still in abstain mode ? Do they agree with Harper's split or have they just permanently lost their balls and don't want to piss off the west anymore than they already have.

 

[TQM]

Yeah - why should the Premier of Ontario

give a shit about how Ontario is represented at the Federal level?

Imagine the nerve of the guy.

As for the federal Liberals precisely why would they give fewer seats to the province that provides them the most members?

 

[someone]

Apparently they can add seats where there is growth in provincial populations but they never seem to take seats away from a province where the population is falling. .

Actually, the constitution prevents them from taking away seats in many cases. For example, the constitution guarantees PEI four seats even though the four seats combined have less people than some Toronto ridings.

 

[train]

give a shit about how Ontario is represented at the Federal level?

Imagine the nerve of the guy.

As for the federal Liberals precisely why would they give fewer seats to the province that provides them the most members?

You've missed the point yet again. This is primarily a federal matter and the silence from the federal party is deafening.

 

[TQM]

train you really can be a moron.

http://www.liberal.ca/story_13335_e.aspx

Did you really think the Federal Liberals were going to let this one go? And why be critical of McGuinty defending Ontario's interests?

Really, you're getting kind of slimy.

 

[train]

http://www.liberal.ca/story_13335_e.aspx

Did you really think the Federal Liberals were going to let this one go? And why be critical of McGuinty defending Ontario's interests?

Really, you're getting kind of slimy.

They seem to have so far.

You really do have a comphrehension problem don't you ? I wasn't being critical of McSquint ( although I think he is wasting his time other than to gain some points by appearing to be tough) I was being citical of Dion and his Ontario deputy Iggy. Keep up with the conversation will you.

The insults are losing their edge there TQM, and they don't really make any sense .... you feeling alright?

 

[TQM]

that's funny

a guy named 'train' trying to change tracks....

 

[Never Compromised]

I'm fairly sure that most people realize that I'm a tory by now, and that no one will dispute that.

Which is more important, partisan gain, or a fundamental belief?

For me, Rep by Pop trumps partisan mud slinging any time.

Harper is simply showing that he is a very good tactician and chess player. Should he be screwing with the idea of giving more support to where he can get seats? No, but that is not going to stop him.

At the end of the day, the Liberals and NDP can stop this charade by pulling the plug and not allow the gerrymandering to continue. Anyone want to bet that they will not?


Harper is a poster boy for "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely".

 

[TQM]

compy

You're right.

 

[markvee]

I'm fairly sure that most people realize that I'm a tory by now, and that no one will dispute that.

Which is more important, partisan gain, or a fundamental belief?

For me, Rep by Pop trumps partisan mud slinging any time.

Thanks Compromised. I'm glad to see you talk about the issue of representation by population ahead of partisanship.

 

[RogerRabbit]

why are the federal liberals not doing their job?