The search for fair votes

Re: Bill aims at tighter rules on fake news, May 1

The recently introduced Bill C-76 aims to strengthen Canada’s electoral system by more severely limiting financial contributions and tightening news reporting.

However, whatever the strengths and good intentions with this initiative are, the serious fundamental flaws embedded within our electoral district distribution system remain.

All electoral districts are not created equal! In fact, there is such a range of population size that certain areas are artificially given more voting power than numbers warrant. Electoral districts in the Maritimes, for example, contain far fewer electors than ridings in Ontario.

Further, by applying arcane rules, Elections Canada arbitrarily allocates additional seats to Quebec. Essentially ignoring the most recent census data, the population shift from east to west is not accommodated with the result that growing population areas are denied the representation that is rightfully theirs.

Unfortunately, our electoral map is a mishmash of gerrymandered electoral districts based on historical grounds that deny contemporary population distribution. Until this unequal distribution is resolved, all minor tinkering with the rules, such as Bill C-76, will not create a level democratic playing field. Jon Bradley, Beaconsfield, Que.