Are there too few or too many MPs?

Debate over the ideal size of a legislature is nothing new; it goes back to the ancient Greeks. The reality is that there is no commonly accepted standard for determining the best size for a Parliament. What matters is how Parliament is used, its practices, procedures, and processes. Size is secondary.
Conservative MPs chat before their caucus meeting in the West Block on Sept. 14, 2025. Theoretically, a larger Parliament makes for better representation and policy responsiveness. On the other hand, a larger Parliament is more likely to suffer inefficiency in decision-making as well as higher operating costs, writes Nelson Wiseman.

TORONTO–Some people would like to see more Members of Parliament. Others would prefer fewer. MPs are among those who do not think there are too many of them. If there were fewer MPs, they fear being a victim of the change, finding themselves discarded as superfluous. That ...

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