Quebec’s electoral landscape has been revamped in preparation for the upcoming provincial election, resulting in the Gaspésie region and Montreal Island each losing one riding. Conversely, the swiftly expanding Laurentians and Centre-du-Québec regions will each acquire an additional seat. The alterations affect 51 of Quebec’s 125 ridings and were mandated by the independent Commission de la représentation électorale (CRÉ) to align with population changes. The revised boundaries were officially released in the Gazette officielle du Québec.
Despite legal resistance from the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government to maintain the existing electoral boundaries, the changes proceeded. The key modifications include the creation of a new riding named Bellefeuille in the Laurentians to accommodate the population surge north of Montreal and the addition of a new riding called Marie-Lacoste-Gérin-Lajoie in Centre-du-Québec, situated south of the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City.
On the other hand, Montreal saw the elimination of a riding in the east end, with the former ridings of Anjou–Louis-Riel, LaFontaine, and Pointe-aux-Trembles being reconfigured into Anjou-LaFontaine and Pointe-aux-Prairies. Additionally, the Gaspé and Bonaventure ridings have been merged.
The decision to reduce representation in the Gaspésie region and eastern Montreal faced opposition when initially proposed in 2023. Last year, all four parties in the National Assembly collaborated to pass a law stalling the redistricting process, citing concerns over regional representation. However, the Quebec Court of Appeal later deemed this law unconstitutional, asserting that it compromised effective representation by perpetuating significant disparities in voter influence.
Following this ruling, the commission finalized the new electoral map. Nevertheless, the CAQ government sought to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada to maintain the current map for the upcoming election, scheduled for the next fall. The Attorney General of Quebec has requested the Supreme Court to consider an appeal by April 15, despite the typical lengthy process for the court to decide on hearing a case.
A coalition of municipal officials from the Laurentians, backed by leaders from Laval, the Outaouais, Eastern Townships, and Centre-du-Québec regions, spearheaded the legal challenge against the government’s efforts to freeze the electoral map, arguing that their constituents were underrepresented.