Canada's three fastest-growing provinces would get more seats in the House of Commons by 2014 under legislation proposed by the Conservative government on Friday.

Under the bill, Ontario would get 10 more members of Parliament, British Columbia would get seven and Alberta would get five.

Peter Van Loan, the minister for democratic reform, stands during question period in the House of Commons Friday.
(Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

All other provinces, whose populations are not growing as quickly, would be guaranteed to keep the number of seats they have.

The 22 new seats mean the House of Commons would have 330 seats, up from the current 308.

Peter Van Loan, the minister for democratic reform, said the idea behind the bill is to give large provinces representation that is more fair while ensuring small provinces aren't forgotten. He said this is a balance that Parliament has sought since Canada was founded.

"It's a question governments have wrestled with," Van Loan told reporters in Ottawa. "Today, with the democratic representation bill, our government will provide a modern, realistic and balanced solution to this age-old problem."

He said large provinces have such high populations that their MPs have to represent 21,000 more constituents than MPs in provinces with low populations. By 2014, the discrepancy could be 30,000, Van Loan said.

Van Loan said the government is using Quebec as its benchmark, with the aim of having other provinces achieve close to the same level of proportional representation enjoyed by Quebec.

Alberta and B.C. will come close to Quebec's mark under the new bill, Van Loan said, although Ontario will still be below.

"The additional seats for British Columbia and Alberta will move these provinces from a position of significant under-representation to a level playing field," Van Loan said.

"Ontario will be better represented than is the case under the existing formula, closer to representation by population, but still modestly under-represented."

Under the new bill:

• Alberta will have 33 of 330 seats, or 10 per cent. Currently the province has 28 of 308 seats, or nine per cent.
• British Columbia will have 43 seats, or 13 per cent. Currently it has 36, or 12 per cent.
• Ontario will have 116 seats, or 35 per cent. Currently it has 106 seats, or 34 per cent.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach welcomed the news.

"I was just looking at some numbers," he said. "The first quarter of this year, over 11,000 people moved to Alberta. That's just in the first three months, so I'm pleased the federal government is moving quickly in this area."

Adjustments to come after 2011 census

The bill calls for the adjustments to take place after the next census in 2011, Van Loan said. The changes will likely be in place by mid-2014 and in use by the next scheduled election in 2017.

If the bill isn't passed, Canada's three large provinces are still scheduled to gain more seats after the 2011 census under the existing formula.

Ontario is set to gain four seats, British Columbia will get two and Alberta will get one.

Van Loan said the proposed changes do  not require amending the Constitution or consulting provinces. The changes will be voted on in the House, as other bills are.

The last time the government changed the seating formula was in 1985.