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Summary: A children's rights expert says that not counting people under 18 within the electoral vote would affect communities with a large youth component. [18 April 2012] - A plan to count only citizens of voting age in determining the configuration of new electoral boundaries could be a violation of children's rights, Bob Pringle, Saskatchewan's Children's Advocate, says. The province has launched a process to redraw the electoral map. In addition to boosting the number of politicians to 61 from 58, the province wants the size of each constituency determined based on the population that is over 18. But according to Pringle, that could violate the Charter of Rights. "Section 3 of the charter is intended to ensure effective representation of the whole population, not just those over the age of 18 years," Pringle said Tuesday. Pringle added the exclusion of minors may also run afoul of the Charter's equality provisions. He said not counting people under 18 would affect communities with a large youth component. Pringle said he informed the government six weeks ago there are issues with the change, both with perception - "we need to do everything we can to give signals and messages to children and youth that we value them" - and with representation. "Leaving children, youth, out of the population count to calculate the boundaries will have a significant effect on the political representation of aboriginal people and new immigrants due to their much younger demographics," Pringle said. "Considering that over 40 per cent of First Nations citizens in Saskatchewan are under the age of 18, you're really excluding the almost half of the First Nations population from equal political representation," Pringle said, adding the concern extends to other groups with young demographics. Saskatchewan's Justice Minister, Don Morgan, said Tuesday he is aware of Pringle's view and he disagrees. He said it is fair to count only people of voting age. "As the children's advocate for Saskatchewan," said Pringle, "I believe that to exclude some 25 per cent of our population from the concept of effective representation is not in the best interests of the 25 per cent." [Sources: CBC News and The Start Phoenix]  Further Information: