Assiniboia MLA SteVen Fletcher introduced a private member's bill in the Legislature yesterday, calling for 8 out of 57 seats in the House to be dropped.

Fletcher feels it would save a lot of money, adding it wouldn't be a large burden for MLAs.

Brandon University Political Science Professor Kelly Saunders says it shows backbench MLAs can be effective.

Kelly Saunders

"Regardless of where they sit, whether on the government or opposition side," she says, "Which is to present ideas, and to float ideas that official governments, or official oppositions, might not necessarily have thought of, but are sort of bigger picture ideas that I think are important for us to have a conversation about, and a discussion about."

Saunders acknowledges Fletcher brings a different perspective, after serving as an MP.

"In his experience, maybe we (MLAs) could take on bigger ridings" she says, "Certainly, from a cost perspective, it could lead to some cost savings, that would be part of that discussion. And look at what the research telsl us, what's happening in other jurisdictions -- I think those are important pieces of information that we would need in order to have a good, logical, fact-based discussion."

Saunders hopes the Legislature will see the idea as something to consider in depth, in the future, with public input.