Under the 1873 terms for PEI, how many Members of Parliament was PEI promised?

Under the 1873 terms for PEI, how many Members of Parliament was PEI promised?

• A. Four
• B. Eight
• C. Six
• D. Ten

Answer: (C)

When provinces join Confederation, how they will be represented in Parliament is a key bargaining point. For Prince Edward Island in 1873, the negotiated terms guaranteed six seats for PEI in the House of Commons. This number was chosen to give the island a meaningful voice in Ottawa while reflecting its smaller population at the time. The other options would have over- or under-represented PEI relative to the agreed balance with the larger provinces. So six MPs is the arrangement that was promised.

When provinces join Confederation, how they will be represented in Parliament is a key bargaining point. For Prince Edward Island in 1873, the negotiated terms guaranteed six seats for PEI in the House of Commons. This number was chosen to give the island a meaningful voice in Ottawa while reflecting its smaller population at the time. The other options would have over- or under-represented PEI relative to the agreed balance with the larger provinces. So six MPs is the arrangement that was promised.