Canada’s Federal Electoral Redistribution

Presented at the International Seminar on Electoral Redistribution

November 2012

Overview

●Electoral Boundaries Redistribution Legal Foundation

Roles and Authorities

Allocation of Seats

Redistribution Process

●Geography and Census Statistics Cartographic Redistricting Tool

Map Viewer

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Purpose of Redistribution

• To ensure that the constituencies reflect population changes and movement between and within regions.

• Effective representation in the House of Commons.

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Legal Foundation

● Constitution Act, 1867: The number of electoral districts and their boundaries shall be readjusted on the completion of each decennial census

● Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act: Establishment of independent commissions and process leading to the Representation Order

● Official Languages Act (OLA): Commitment to enhancing the vitality of official language minority communities

● Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

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Roles and Authorities

3 Key groups

Electoral boundaries commissions

Elections Canada

Parliamentarians

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Electoral Boundaries Commissions

●An independent, three-member commission for each province

●Has the mandate to consider and report on the readjustment of the province’s representation in the House of Commons

●Must consider: The electoral quota for the province (plus or minus 25%)

Communities of interest and identity

Historical patterns of previous electoral boundaries

Manageable geographic size

●Must hold at least one public hearing

●Final authority for boundaries and names of electoral districts

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Roles and Authorities (cont’d)

Roles and Authorities (cont’d)

● Calculates the number of seats in each province ● Provides administrative, technical and financial support

to the commissions

● Prepares a draft representation order

● Prepares official maps● Prepares to deliver a general election with the new

boundaries

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Roles and Authorities (cont’d)

Members of Parliament

●Can participate in public hearings

●File objections to the reports with the Parliamentary Committee

Parliamentary Committee

●Considers filed objections

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Allocation of Seats

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78(+3)121

(+15)

1414

34(+6)

42(+6)

3

10

7

181…295308338 (1867…..…….……………..2013)

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Redistribution Process10

Disposition of Objections

ProposalsMay 26–Sept. 8

Public HearingsJuly 3–Nov. 15

Deadline: Dec. 21possible 2-month extension

Proclamation of Representation Order: Sept. 42nd GE

• Each commission develops and publishes a proposal • for its province.

Members of the public can make a presentation at a public hearing.

In light of the feedback received during the public hearing period, the commissions may adjust their initial proposals and finalize their reports.

Members of Parliament have 30 days after its referral to committee to file objections to a report. The parliamentary committee considers the objections.

A report is then returned to the commission.

The commission has 30 days to consider the objections and decides whether to modify any boundaries or district names.

Census Return: Feb. 8

Allocation of Seats: Dec. 16, 2011

Establishment of the Commissions: Feb. 21

ReportsNov. 5–Feb. 15

2012 2013 2014 2015

ParliamentaryProcess

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In force Earliest: April

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Geography and Census Statistics Geography and Census Statistics

●Development of scenarios for proposals and reports:

Cartographic Redistricting Tool

●Public consultation: Map Viewer

Role of Geography and Census Statistics

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Cartographic Redistricting Tool

● Application based on ArcGis 10 and Autobound

● Runs on laptops (1 per Commission)

● Operated by Elections Canada techniciens

● Uses Census and geographic data: 2011 Census population 2006 Census socio-economic data (Age; Marital Status; Mother Tongue; Ethnic Origin; Education; Income; etc) Census polygons(Census Division, Sub-Division, Dissemination Area and Dissemination Block) Municipal and administrative boundaries Topographic base

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Regroups Census polygons into Electoral Districts

Calculates population and demographic variables

Validation and reporting

Cartographic Redistricting Tool (cont’d)

Flash interface on Google Map Locates electoral districts from street addresses Displays current, proposed and final boundaries

Public Consultation – Map Viewer

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Conclusion

Independence and non-partisanship

+Engagement of Parliamentarians and of the public

+Training and support to Commissions

+Tools and data

=

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