Proposed Quebec electoral map would eliminate riding in Montreal
Quebec's electoral representation commission presented its preliminary report that recommends changing 55 of the 125 electoral division in nine regions of Quebec.
The 173-page report proposes two new electoral districts the commission says would be more representative of their electoral weight.
"The proposed electoral divisions have been delimited with particular attention to the sense of belonging of electors to their community and to the boundaries of the administrative regions, regional county municipalities, municipalities and boroughs," the report reads.
The commission proposes a new Bellefeuille riding in the Laurentians-Lanaudiere region, which has seen the biggest increase in the number of voters in Quebec since 2017. The proposal would change 12 of the 17 electoral districts in that region.
A second district called Marie-Lacoste-Gerin-Lajoie is also proposed in the Eastern Townships-Centre-du-Quebec region. Nine districts in that region would be modified based on the commission's report.
The Parti Quebecois (PQ) is not happy about one of the two regions that would have a riding removed.
The commission recommends removing a district on the east of the Island of Montreal and the Bas-Saint-Laurent-Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeline regions, as voter numbers have decreased in each area.
PQ Matane-Matapédia MNA Pascal Bérubé is calling for the proposal to be changed and said that the size of the electoral divisions in Gaspesie would become excessive and impossible for an elected representative to cover.
"They're natural communities and sometimes we feel that we can put apart two areas that go well together because there's historical relation to those parts," said Bérubé.
The report proposes merging the Bonaventure and Gaspe ridings.
"Which is almost a country," said Bérubé. "It's too big. It's too hard to represent this kind of riding."
The Island of Montreal would have 26 ridings (down from 27) and the Bas-Saint-Laurent-Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine region would go from six to five ridings.
Proposed electoral map for the Island of Montreal. It would reduce ridings on the island from 27 to 26. SOURCE: Commission de la representation electorale
The new map is based on populations within electoral districts. The commission says that populations have increased in suburban areas, particularly in the Greater Montreal Area.
"This trend has created inequalities in representation that need to be corrected to ensure fair and equitable representation of all Québec electors," the commission's report says.
The Anjou-Louis Riel riding, currently held by CAQ MNA Karine Boivin Roy, would cease to exist. Quebec Solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal's Rosemont riding, along with Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's Camille-Laurin riding, would absorb the territory.
The current electoral map was adopted in 2017 and has been used for the past two provincial elections. It was based on the November 2014 voter numbers.
The following are the ridings that will be modified based on their regions.
- Bas-Saint-Laurent– Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine Bonaventure - Gaspé, Matane-Matapédia and Rimouski
- Capitale-Nationale La Peltrie - Portneuf and Vanier-Les Rivières
- Estrie–Centre-du-Québec - Arthabaska, Brome-Missisquoi, Johnson, Drummond–Bois-Francs, Granby, Nicolet‑Bécancour, Orford, Richmond and Saint-François
- Island of Montreal - Camille-Laurin, Gouin, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Laurier‑Dorion, Rosemont, Anjou–Louis-Riel, Sainte‑Marie–Saint-Jacques and Viau
- Laurentides-Lanaudière - Argenteuil, Berthier, Blainville, Labelle, L’Assomption, Les Plaines, Masson, Mirabel, Prévost, Repentigny, Saint‑Jérôme and Terrebonne
- Laval - Chomedey, Laval-des-Rapides and Mille-Îles
- Montérégie - Beauharnois, Borduas, Huntingdon, Saint‑Hyacinthe, Richelieu, Saint-Jean, Sanguinet, Soulanges, Vaudreuil amd Verchères
- Outaouais - Chapleau, Gatineau, Hull and Papineau
- Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean - Chicoutimi and Dubuc
The electoral map exercise occurs once every eight years.
The Liberals said they will participate actively in the consultation process which will run from Oct. 10 to Nov. 15.
"It's a question of effective representation at the national assembly and also effective representation of all of our regions because every Quebecor needs to have a voice at the national assembly," said interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay.
With files from The Canadian Press.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.5465332.1623359965!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
Multiple Jewish organizations, hospitals across Canada receive identical bomb threats
Police in multiple cities across Canada are responding to bomb threats that were sent to Jewish organizations, synagogues and some hospitals this morning.
'Intimate partner violence' led to triple homicide in McCreary: Manitoba RCMP
A 'horrific act of intimate partner violence' is what led to a triple homicide in McCreary, Man. last week according to RCMP.
Tory MP deletes post that claimed cost of living is driving parents to traffic kids
Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri has deleted a post on X that claimed the affordability crisis has driven parents to traffic their kids.
Canada's consul general Tom Clark didn't influence choice of new NYC condo, official says
Canada's consul general in New York Tom Clark did not influence the government's decision to purchase his new official residence, a senior Global Affairs Canada official told MPs Wednesday.
'Caught me by surprise': Rare 'blue' frog spotted in Nova Scotia
When a Nova Scotia woman set out on a walk, she ended up discovering something very colourful.
Boaters urged to seek shelter as 'waterspout watch' issued for coastal B.C.
Environment Canada has issued a waterspout watch for British Columbia's South Coast, urging mariners to prepare for the potentially dangerous weather phenomena.
Alicia Silverstone is 'alive and well' after concern over her possibly poisonous snack
'Clueless' star Alicia Silverstone sparked concern after she posted a video in which she took a bite into what some of her followers speculated was poisonous fruit.
Commuters, billions of dollars could be affected by rail strike; Trudeau urges deal
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is urging negotiators to reach a deal to prevent an unprecedented railway stoppage that could have an economic impact worth billions of dollars.
2 found in trunk of car speeding 50 km/h over the limit in Ottawa
Ottawa police caught a group of eight people in a five-seater vehicle speeding 50 km/h over the speed limit on Greenbank Road in Ottawa's Barrhaven neighbourhood.