Ottawa

Just a number

Behold, our baby-faced new Parliament.

Samara and a group of volunteers–Janet Rodriguez, Tyler Somers, and Sarah Somerton–have been compiling information on the new MPs, including their year of birth. This information has proved enlightening. For instance, the average age of an MP taking office in the 40th Parliament was 52. The average age of an MP taking office in the 41st Parliament is 51 … And our new MPs are also a year younger than their more seasoned counterparts were when they entered politics. Given this information, perhaps the media’s focus on the youth of the new Parliament is a little exaggerated.

Nonetheless, a few points of interest.

By my count, there are 19 MPs who will be under the age of 30 when this Parliament convenes: the 18 listed here, plus Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe. All of them are New Democrats. All but two represent ridings in Quebec. All but one (the returning Niki Ashton) are new to Ottawa.

For the sake of history, six of the 15 youngest people ever elected to Parliament in this country are now New Democrats elected in 2011.

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