Summary#

This bill would change section 51 of the Constitution Act, 1867 to guarantee that Quebec holds at least 25% of all seats in the House of Commons. It would apply after the usual seat-allocation rules are run following each census. If Quebec’s share falls below 25%, extra Quebec seats would be added until the 25% floor is met (the total number of MPs would rise by the same amount) (Bill s.51 amendment).

• Sets a permanent floor: Quebec’s House seats cannot be less than 25% of all MPs (Bill s.51 amendment).
• Adds Quebec seats, when needed, after each readjustment; no other province loses seats because of this bill (Bill s.51 amendment).
• Increases the total size of the House by the number of added Quebec seats (Bill s.51 amendment).
• Example using the 2024 seat map: Quebec has 78 of 343 seats (22.7%); reaching 25% would require about 11 more Quebec MPs, raising the House to about 354 seats (Elections Canada, 2022 Representation Order).
• The preamble cites prior House motions recognizing Quebec as a “distinct society” (1995) and “nation within a united Canada” (2006), and acknowledging Quebec’s will to entrench French as its only official language (2021) (Preamble).

What it means for you#

• Households and voters in Quebec:
  • You could gain additional MPs after a census-based redistribution if Quebec would otherwise fall below 25% of seats. This would apply during future readjustments (Bill s.51 amendment).
  • New ridings would be created in Quebec, so each riding would have fewer residents than before. Constituency services would be available from more MPs’ offices in Quebec (Bill s.51 amendment).
• Voters in other provinces and territories:
  • Your province keeps the seats it gets under the existing rules; this bill does not take seats away (Bill s.51 amendment).
  • Your province’s share of total House seats would be slightly lower than under the current formula if Quebec seats are added, because the denominator (total MPs) increases while your province’s seats do not.
• Political parties and candidates:
  • Parties would run candidates in any new Quebec ridings once they are drawn during redistribution (Electoral boundaries are set during readjustments following each census).
• Elections administration:
  • Federal boundary commissions would need to draw additional ridings in Quebec when the 25% floor requires it, within the normal redistribution process (Bill s.51 amendment).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• No fiscal note or appropriation language is in the bill. Data unavailable.
• If additional Quebec seats are added, ongoing parliamentary operating costs would rise (e.g., MPs’ salaries, office budgets, and staff), and there would be one-time costs to implement new ridings. Data unavailable.
• The number and timing of added seats depend on future redistributions after each census (Bill s.51 amendment). Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Protects Quebec’s political weight in the House as its population share changes, ensuring a minimum 25% of seats (Bill s.51 amendment).
• Implements, in concrete terms, past House of Commons recognitions of Quebec as a distinct society and a nation within Canada (Preamble).
• Does not reduce other provinces’ seat counts; it only adds Quebec seats if needed, after the standard rules and the senatorial floor are applied (Bill s.51 amendment; s.51A).
• Could improve service to Quebec constituents by creating smaller ridings and more constituency offices when extra seats are added (Bill s.51 amendment).
• Provides a clear, durable rule applied at each readjustment rather than ad hoc fixes (Bill s.51 amendment).

Opponents' View#

• May conflict with the constitutional “principle of proportionate representation of the provinces” in the House, which is listed among matters requiring the general 7/50 amending formula (Constitution Act, 1982, s.42(1)(a); s.38). Critics argue Parliament cannot make this change unilaterally under s.44.
• Could face court challenges, creating uncertainty about timing and application during redistribution cycles. Data unavailable.
• Increases differences in representation across provinces by giving Quebec a higher seat share than its population share when the floor binds, reducing voter parity relative to other provinces (Bill s.51 amendment).
• Grows the size of the House over time if Quebec’s population share remains below 25%, increasing ongoing costs for MPs and parliamentary administration. Data unavailable.
• Adds complexity to redistributions in Quebec, as commissions must create additional ridings that meet community and geography criteria within the 25% guarantee (Bill s.51 amendment).