FAQ

Provincial electoral map

Q.: What is the status of the commission in charge of delimiting the electoral divisions in Québec?

A.: The Commission de la représentation électorale (CRE) is an independent, standing commission. It has a decision-making power and acts in a neutral and impartial manner.

It is made up of the Chief Electoral Officer who is the Chairman automatically and two commissioners appointed by the National Assembly.

Q.: When must the provincial electoral map be re-drawn?

A.: Pursuant to the Election Act, a new delimitation of the electoral divisions must take place after the second general election following the last delimitation.

The last delimitation of the electoral map was made in 2001. Two general elections were held in 2003 and 2007, and the minority government situation led to a third general election in 2008. Since March 2007, the Commission de la représentation électorale has been working on a new delimitation and is currently awaiting the examination of the report by the Committee on the National Assembly.

The preliminary report (PDF : 909 Kb, 164 pages) of the map has been available since March 12, 2008.

Q.: When will the new map enter into effect?

A.: The next step stipulated in the Election Act is the examination by the Committee on the National Assembly which should take place in the spring of 2009. The Commission de la représentation électorale will continue its work after having heard the comments of elected members participating in this Committee on the National Assembly.

The Commission will then table its second report containing the revised delimitation proposal for all of the electoral divisions of Québec. Following the tabling of this report, a debate limited to five hours will be held in the National Assembly. Not later than the tenth day following this debate, the Commission shall establish the boundaries of the electoral divisions of Québec and assign names to them. The list of the electoral divisions will then be published in the Gazette officielle du Québec.

The new map will take effect when the National Assembly is dissolved, as long as this dissolution does not take place less than three months after the publication in the Gazette officielle.

For more information on the steps leading to a new map, please consult the following press release.

Q.: What criteria guide the Commission when establishing the boundaries of the electoral divisions?

A.: Each electoral division must be delimited in such a way as to ensure that the principle of effective representation of electors is respected.

In this exercise, the Commission takes into account demographical, geographical and sociological considerations, such as the population density and its growth, the accessibility, the area and shape of the region, the natural local boundaries as well as the limits of local municipalities.

Moreover, the electoral divisions have roughly the same number of electors. To this end, a quotient is established according to the following formula: total number of electors divided by the number of electoral divisions (125).

The electoral population of a division must not deviate by more than 25% from the quotient obtained.

Here is an example to show how the calculation is done: on November 30, 2007, there were 5,650,910 electors. The average is 45,207 electors and the total number of electors in each of the electoral divisions varies from 33,905 to 56,509.

Q.: Are there electoral divisions that depart from the rule establishing the maximum or minimum number of electors?

A.: Yes. In addition to the case of Îles-de-la-Madeleine, which the Act recognizes as an exceptional division, the Commission may depart from the basic criteria if it deems that they do not suit a given territory.

That is why in 2001, the Commission established five other exceptional divisions, namely that of Bonaventure, Gaspé, Matane, Matapédia and Ungava.

Q.: How is an electoral division’s name determined?

A.: After having requested the opinion of the Commission de toponymie, the Commission attributes a name to each electoral division that it delimits.

Each toponym can be related to the name of a place (descriptive), a person (dedicatory anthroponym) or linguistic (English, French or aboriginal) and may also be a commemorative toponym (religious holiday).

Q.: Is the number of electoral divisions limited?

A.: Yes, the Election Act sets the number of electoral divisions. It may vary from 122 to 125.

Currently, there are 125 electoral divisions, namely the maximum authorized by the Act.

Q.: Can electors or any other group take part in the delimitation process?

A.: Yes, during the six months following the tabling of a preliminary report(March 12, 2008), which includes a draft electoral map, the Commission hears representations made by citizens during public hearings held in various regions of Québec.

Furthermore, you can submit your opinion or your own delimitation suggestion to the Commission even if you do not attend the public hearings.

To register for a hearing or to present a written a submission or your opinion, please consult the following Public hearings.

Q.: When the current map come into force?

A.: The list of electoral divisions published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on December 18, 2001 and it entered into force at the time of the dissolution of the National Assembly, namely on March 12, 2003.

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