More Ridings Needed for Majority Government

The major parties will keep polling at the same numbers until legislation to create new federal ridings is pushed through Parliament.

Two recent polls have Conservative Party and Liberal Party support within the margin of error, including a poll released by Ipsos Reid on Tuesday that gives the Tories a three-point edge over the competition. And while recent numbers have led to election rumblings, John Wright, vice president at Ipsos Global Public Affairs, doesn't think a fall election is imminent. Wright says that given the Bloc Qu̩b̩cois' stronghold on Quebec's federal ridings Рaround 40 per cent of the province backed the Bloc in the Ipsos Reid poll Рthe Liberals and Conservatives have little shot at securing a majority government, and thus an election would only maintain the status quo.

However, Wright says a majority government could be possible two elections from now, but only if legislation is passed to add as many as 32 new federal ridings in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.