Which house represents the people on the basis of population?

• A. The House of Commons
• B. The Senate
• C. The Legislative Council
• D. The Parliament

Answer: (A)

Population-based representation means seats reflect how many people live in an area, so more people means more MPs. The House of Commons is the people’s chamber in Canada, with Members of Parliament elected from ridings and the number of seats adjusted to reflect population shifts. This is why its composition changes as populations grow or move.

The Senate, by contrast, is designed to balance regional interests and gives provinces a fixed number of seats, regardless of population, and Senators are appointed rather than elected. The Legislative Council refers to historic provincial upper houses and isn’t the federal mechanism for population-based representation. Parliament includes both houses, but the principle of representing the people by population is embodied by the House of Commons.