Reform of the electoral map: steps to come

Map used for the general election

The December 8, 2008 provincial general election was held using the electoral map drawn up in 2001. Indeed, since all of the steps in the revision of the provincial electoral map begun by the Commission de la représentation électorale had not been completed, the election had to be held according to the delimitation in force.

Look back at the work accomplished

The Election Act stipulates that the Commission shall make a new delimitation of the electoral divisions after the second general election that follows the last delimitation. The Commission began its work on March 27, 2007 and on March 12, 2008 it tabled in the National Assembly its preliminary report containing a proposal for the delimitation of the electoral divisions.

Afterwards, 24 public hearings were held in various regions of Québec. They took place from April 21 to June 13, 2008 in order to hear Members of the National Assembly, interested individuals and organizations on the delimitation proposal. In all, the Commission heard 310 interventions and received close to 1080 documents.

Steps to come

The next step stipulated in the Election Act is the holding of the Committee on the National Assembly. According to the work schedule of the Commission de la représentation électorale, this step of the process was planned for around June 18, 2008. However, the agenda of the end-of-session parliamentary business did not allow the Committee on the National Assembly to proceed with this examination in the spring of 2008.

The Commission de la représentation électorale will continue its work after having heard the comments of the Members of the National Assembly during the Committee on the National Assembly which will be convened later. The Commission will then table its second report which will contain the revised delimitation proposal for all of the electoral divisions of Québec. Following the tabling, 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 them names. The list of the electoral divisions shall then be published in the Gazette officielle du Québec.

It is important to mention that the new electoral map of Québec shall come into force upon the dissolution of the National Assembly, namely when the next general election is called. However, if this dissolution occurs before the expiry of three months from publication of the new electoral map in the Gazette officielle du Québec, the map cannot come into force.

It is possible to locate and view the electoral divisions currently in effect. To learn about the electoral divisions in effect >>

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