# How Many MPs Are in the House of Commons? — 338 Explained
The House of Commons has 338 elected Members of Parliament (MPs). The House is the most powerful chamber of Canadian Parliament — it controls government spending, the Prime Minister sits there, and most laws start there. This guide explains how MPs are elected, how seats are distributed, and what the citizenship test asks.
The number — and what it means
The current House of Commons has 338 seats. The number is set by Parliament itself and is reviewed every 10 years after the census. It reflects Canada's growing population — the House had 282 seats in 1979, 295 in 1985, 301 in 1996, 308 in 2003, and 338 since 2015. The next adjustment may add a few more seats based on the 2021 census.
Each MP represents a riding — also called an electoral district. There are 338 ridings, one per MP.
How MPs are elected
MPs are elected by Canadian citizens 18 and older using a system called first-past-the-post:
- In each riding, voters choose one candidate.
- The candidate with the most votes wins — even if they did not get a majority.
- The party with the most MPs forms the government.
- The leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister.
If no party wins more than half the seats (170 out of 338), the result is a minority government — the governing party must rely on the support of MPs from other parties to pass laws.
Seat distribution by province
Seats are distributed roughly by population, but every province is guaranteed a minimum based on its 1985 seat count and its number of senators. Approximate breakdown:
| Province / Territory | Seats |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 121 |
| Quebec | 78 |
| British Columbia | 42 |
| Alberta | 34 |
| Manitoba | 14 |
| Saskatchewan | 14 |
| Nova Scotia | 11 |
| New Brunswick | 10 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 7 |
| Prince Edward Island | 4 |
| Yukon | 1 |
| Northwest Territories | 1 |
| Nunavut | 1 |
| Total | 338 |
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How long MPs serve
MPs serve until the next election. By the Canada Elections Act, federal elections happen at least every 4 years on the third Monday in October, but the Prime Minister can ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament earlier. The Constitution caps the maximum life of a Parliament at 5 years.
What MPs do
MPs:
- Vote on laws in the House of Commons
- Question the government during Question Period
- Sit on committees that study bills and issues
- Represent their riding — help constituents with federal services and concerns
The Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers are also MPs (or, very rarely, senators) — see [What Is the Cabinet in Canada?](/blog/cabinet-canada-what-is-it).
What the test asks
Common citizenship-test questions:
- How many MPs are in the House of Commons? *(338)*
- How are MPs chosen? *(Elected by Canadian citizens)*
- What is a riding? *(An electoral district — see [What Is a Riding in Canada?](/blog/what-is-a-riding-canada))*
- How does a federal election work? *(First-past-the-post — see [How Does a Canadian Federal Election Work?](/blog/canadian-federal-election-how-it-works))*
Practice the actual citizenship test
Lock in the 338 number and the rest of the parliamentary facts. Try our [free practice test](/practice-test) — it asks this question in the same format you will see on test day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1How many MPs sit in the House of Commons?
338. Each represents a single riding (electoral district). The number is reviewed and adjusted after each 10-year census so seats reflect Canada's population.
2How are MPs chosen?
Directly elected by Canadian citizens 18 and older at federal elections. Each riding holds one election; whoever gets the most votes wins, even without a majority. This is called first-past-the-post.
3How long does an MP serve?
Until the next federal election. By law, federal elections happen at least every 5 years, but the Prime Minister can ask the Governor General to call one sooner.
4Is the Prime Minister an MP?
Yes. The PM must be a member of the House of Commons. By convention, the PM is the leader of the party that wins the most seats in the most recent election.
5Is this on the citizenship test?
Yes — knowing the House of Commons has 338 MPs and that they are elected (not appointed) is one of the most common test questions on Parliament.