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 2

Purpose of Redistribution To ensure that the constituencies reflect population changes and movement between and within regions. Effective representation in the House of Commons. 3

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 4

Roles and Authorities 3 Key groups  Electoral boundaries commissions  Elections Canada  Parliamentarians 5

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 6 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 7

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 8

Allocation of Seats 9 78 (+3) 121 (+15) (+6) 42 (+6)  …  295  308  338 (1867…..…….……………..2013) 4 11

Redistribution Process 10 Disposition of Objections Proposals May 26–Sept. 8 Public Hearings July 3–Nov. 15 Deadline: Dec. 21 possible 2-month extension Proclamation of Representation Order: Sept. 42 nd 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 Reports Nov. 5–Feb Parliamentary Process 10 In force Earliest: April

11 Geography and Census Statistics

● Development of scenarios for proposals and reports:  Cartographic Redistricting Tool ● Public consultation:  Map Viewer Role of Geography and Census Statistics 12

13 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

14  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 15

16 Conclusion Independence and non-partisanship +Engagement of Parliamentarians and of the public +Training and support to Commissions +Tools and data =

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