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To: Premier of Ontario Doug Ford, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra
More Voices, More Choices: Why Ontario Needs Legislative Expansion for Fair Representation
We call on the Ontario government to expand our provincial legislature to 200 seats, ensuring that each riding represents approximately 75,000 people.
Ontario’s population has grown rapidly, but our legislature has not kept up. With over 14 million residents and only 124 seats, our current structure forces some MPPs to represent up to 120,000 people, making it difficult for them to effectively advocate for local issues and concerns. This imbalance limits Ontarians’ voices and strains our democracy, especially compared to other provinces.
Quebec, with a population of roughly 8.5 million, has 125 seats, allowing for greater local representation across the province. Alberta and British Columbia have also adapted their legislative sizes to better reflect their populations. It’s time for Ontario to address this gap and bring our legislature in line with comparable provinces, providing each community with fair representation.
By increasing Ontario’s legislature to 200 seats, we can ensure fairer, more accessible representation across all communities—from urban centers to rural and northern areas. Smaller ridings mean our elected officials will have more time to address constituent concerns, understand regional needs, and advocate for vital services and infrastructure.
We urge you to act now to create a more responsive, inclusive Ontario. It’s time to give every Ontarian an equal voice in the issues that matter most. Our communities deserve fair representation—help us make it happen.
Why is this important?
Increasing Ontario’s legislative seats from 124 to 200 is about making sure every community has a fair voice in government. Right now, some MPPs represent over 120,000 people, making it hard for them to stay in touch with the needs of each community. With more seats, each MPP would represent about 75,000 people, making it easier for them to focus on local issues and listen to voters’ concerns.
For the average Ontarian, this means better access to healthcare, improved transit, and more support for schools. When MPPs have more manageable constituencies, they can spend more time listening to residents and advocating for resources where they’re needed. Smaller ridings mean more time for MPPs to help with community projects, address local problems, and respond to issues as they arise.
Other provinces like Quebec have already adjusted their legislature to match population growth, so it’s time Ontario caught up. As our population continues to grow, we need a government that reflects this change. More seats mean fairer representation, especially for areas outside major cities, which often feel overlooked.
Adding more seats isn’t about creating more government; it’s about making sure every Ontarian is heard. This change would make our democracy stronger and more responsive. Now, more than ever, Ontario needs a government that works for everyone, regardless of where they live. By expanding our legislature, we can build a fairer, more connected province.