Bill C-12 explained in plain English

This artifact is a record of the House of Commons sitting on December 16, 2010, specifically covering the second reading debate for Bill C-12, the Democratic Representation Act. The debate focused on proposed changes to the formula for distributing seats in the House of Commons among the provinces, aiming to better reflect population changes. The Minister of State (Democratic Reform) introduced the bill, explaining its purpose was to restore representation by population and ensure fairer representation for faster-growing provinces while protecting the seat counts of slower-growing ones. Various members from different parties expressed their views, concerns, and proposed amendments, particularly regarding the representation of Quebec and the impact of population shifts on provincial seat allocation. The debate also included discussions on other government business and various statements by members.

During the second reading debate on Bill C-12, the Democratic Representation Act, the Minister of State (Democratic Reform) presented the bill, explaining that it aims to restore representation by population in the House of Commons. The current formula, established in 1985, is argued to penalize faster-growing provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, leading to under-representation and significant differences in riding sizes. The bill proposes to amend this formula to ensure fairer representation by adjusting the number of seats based on population growth, while protecting the current seat counts of slower-growing provinces. Opposition members, particularly from the Bloc Québécois, expressed strong opposition, arguing the bill would diminish the political weight of the Quebec nation and failed to guarantee Quebec's representation. Other opposition parties, while acknowledging the need for change, raised concerns about the government's consultation process and the bill's impact on Quebec. The debate highlighted differing views on representation, national identity, and the balance between provinces. The Minister of State announced a time allocation motion would be proposed to limit debate at this stage.

This artifact is a record of a debate in the House of Commons on December 16, 2010, regarding Bill C-12, the Democratic Representation Act. This bill aims to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, to change how seats in the House of Commons are allocated among provinces based on population. The debate involved discussions about ensuring fairer representation for faster-growing provinces while protecting the representation of slower-growing ones. Several parties expressed concerns and proposed different approaches, particularly regarding Quebec's representation.

This artifact contains the debate that took place during the second reading stage of Bill C-12, the Democratic Representation Act, in the House of Commons on December 16, 2010. The debate focused on how the number of seats in the House of Commons is determined for each province and how the current formula may not accurately reflect population changes, potentially under-representing faster-growing provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. Members from various parties discussed the principle of 'representation by population' and how to balance it with protections for smaller or slower-growing provinces. The Bloc Québécois expressed strong opposition, arguing the bill would diminish Quebec's political weight and proposed an amendment to ensure Quebec maintains at least 25% of the seats. Other parties, while supporting the bill's aim to improve representation, raised concerns about the consultation process and the impact on Quebec. The debate concluded with a notice of a time allocation motion, indicating an agreement could not be reached to limit debate.

During the House of Commons second reading debate on Bill C-12, the Democratic Representation Act, on December 16, 2010, the Minister of State (Democratic Reform) opened the debate. He explained that the bill aimed to restore representation by population in the House of Commons by amending the constitutional formula for readjusting seats. He argued that the current formula unfairly penalized faster-growing provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, leading to MPs in those provinces representing significantly more constituents than MPs in slower-growing provinces. He stated that Bill C-12 would remove an artificial ceiling in the current formula, set a maximum average riding population, and protect the seat counts of slower-growing provinces. Opposition parties raised concerns about the bill's impact on Quebec's representation and the adequacy of consultations. The Bloc Québécois moved an amendment to decline second reading, arguing the bill would reduce Quebec's political weight and did not guarantee a minimum of 25% of seats. The debate also touched upon the process of the bill, with opposition members questioning the delay in bringing it forward for debate. The Liberal Party indicated support for the bill's goals but emphasized the need for thorough committee study and provincial consultation. The NDP also expressed support for representation by population but raised concerns about the bill's impact on Quebec and the need for broader electoral reform. The Bloc Québécois amendment was debated extensively, with members from various parties stating their positions. The debate concluded without a decision on the bill or the amendment. A notice of a time allocation motion was given by the Government House Leader, indicating that a specific time would be set for the debate and disposal of the second reading stage of Bill C-12.

On March 22, 2011, during the second reading debate of Bill C-12 in the House of Commons, Members of Parliament from various parties discussed the proposed changes to democratic representation. A significant portion of the debate focused on how the bill would affect Quebec's representation in the House of Commons. Members from the Bloc Québécois argued that the bill would reduce Quebec's political weight and disproportionately affect its representation compared to its population, citing historical agreements and the recognition of Quebec as a nation. They proposed an amendment to decline the bill. Members from the Conservative Party defended the bill, stating it uphrizes representation by population and aims to give more seats to faster-growing provinces. Other parties, including the Liberals and NDP, also participated in the debate, raising concerns about the bill's impact on representation, the effectiveness of MPs, and the balance between population and regional representation.