Does Atlantic Canada have too many politicians?

Nova Scotia's Utility and Review Board ordered the province's two largest municipalities to cut the number of municipal politicians.

Halifax will make a 30 per cent cut in the number of city councillors and Sydney will make a 25 per cent cut.

The order has reignited a long-running debate about the number of elected politicos in Atlantic Canada compared to the rest of the country.

It's long been recognized that federally the region has been over-represented in Ottawa.

Toronto, for example, despite having a greater population than all four Atlantic provinces combined, has only 23 MPs compared to Atlantic Canada's 32.

The political bulge, however, is also prominent at the provincial level.

In Nova Scotia, 52 MLAs represent 940,000 people. By comparison, Alberta, with almost four times the population, has only 83 members in its legislature.

At the municipal level, according to a story in the Globe and Mail, Canada's 10 provincial capitals have a total of 170 councillors serving 5.16 million people, an average of one councillor for every 30,353 residents.

In Atlantic Canada, the four provincial capitals have approximately 555,000 people represented by 54 councillors, an average of about 10,300 residents per councillor.

Talk about over-representation, especially considering the majority of residents have never called their councillors on matters troubling them.

Proponents of smaller councils cite lower costs and operational efficiencies as the main benefits.

One of those proponents is Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly, who will see his council reduced to 16 from 23. Kelly is now calling for a review of the provincial legislature.

"I think it's time the province reviews its own structure and number (of MLAs) as well," Kelly told Metro News.

"It's (a question) that needs to come to the forefront."

(CBC Photo)