Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle

The MP for Nickel Belt has drafted a bill to keep all 10 of the federal ridings in Northern Ontario intact.

Claude Gravelle said losing seats here is a realistic possibility, particularly in light of the most recent national census data, which shows northern Ontario's population numbers are down.

"I have stood up in the house along with my colleagues from northern Ontario, when we were debating this bill, and blankly asked the Conservatives if they had any intentions of reducing the seats in northern Ontario or leaving them the same and they absolutely refused to answer," Gravelle said.

"So that leads me to believe that they are going to reduce our seats in northern Ontario."

Prior to 1995, northern Ontario had 12 federal seats in the House of Commons. Now, there are 10 — the majority of which are held by the NDP.