Urban Canada’s voice is being diminished at the federal cabinet table, says a long-time Toronto area mayor who is urging the Prime Minister to immediately pass promised legislation giving fast-growing provinces more seats in the Commons. From his vantage point in Ajax, Ont., Steve Parish – who has been mayor for 16 years – sees huge population increases yet urban issues are not front and centre on the government’s agenda.
“Population growth in the GTA has been explosive and far outstrips many other parts of the country, including Quebec, “ Mr. Parish told The Globe. “There are important urban issues that the House of Commons needs to address. There are important constituencies that need to be properly and thoroughly represented in the House of Commons.”
He wants Stephen Harper to use his majority to quickly pass a government bill that would see 18 more seats added in Ontario, seven in British Columbia and five in Alberta. Under this formula Quebec would not gain more seats, which is proving to be controversial.
The mayor is concerned by reports the proposed legislation is delayed thanks to fears of a Quebec backlash. In hopes the seats can be added in time for the next federal election, Mr. Parish wants the government to act now.
He’s written to his MP, Chris Alexander, the parliamentary secretary to the Defence Minister, with his views. And he’s sent the letter to his fellow GTA mayors, asking them to do the same.
“Southern Ontario is currently severely underrepresented and our citizens cannot continue to be disadvantaged in this way,” Mr. Parish writes. “It is critical that action be taken to ensure this legislation is passed in advance of the 2015 election.”
He notes in his letter that the existing make-up of the 308-seat Commons “disenfranchises the multiethnic communities and dilutes the voices of the country’s largest cities.”
As for issues, he says transit is something that should be addressed urgently. Many cities require significant upgrades to ease increasing commuter gridlock.
“We need partners at the table,” Mr. Parish told The Globe. “We need the federal government at the table. If there is not sufficient MPs sending that message we don’t get on the agenda and transit is just one example.”
The Globe reported Tuesday, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is calling on the federal government to help cut commute times in the 2012 budget as part of a new infrastructure stimulus plan.
As Quebec, which has 75 seats in the Commons and is not slated to receive more in the proposed bill, Mr. Parish says “nobody would like to see Quebec get less representation than they are entitled to.”
That entitlement is about 23 per cent – or its percentage of the Canadian population.
“If they need a seat when all this other readjustment is done, then so be it,” the mayor said. “The numbers are the numbers but the principle of representation by population must be upheld.”
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Source: Globe&Mail
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