Still Not Equal? Visible Minority Vote Dilution in Canada

Abstract

This article takes the long-standing fact of deviations from representation by population in Canada and asks whether a consequence is visible minority vote dilution. It builds on our earlier article on this topic by calculating voting power for visible minorities and non-visible minorities for the 2004 federal electoral map and for provincial electoral districts in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. We conclude that vote dilution continues to exist and is concentrated in the ridings with the highest proportion of visible minorities. Visible minority vote dilution carries special significance in light of demographic, policy, and constitutional considerations. The article concludes by offering options for reform.

Keywords: vote dilution, visible minority, representation by population, federal electoral districts, provincial electoral districts, electoral boundaries, voting rights