Quebec’s electoral map will undergo changes by October 2026 following a recent ruling by the Court of Appeal.
The court deemed Bill 59, which halted the work of the Electoral Representation Commission (CRE), as unconstitutional in a decision announced on Monday. This bill, supported by all four parties in the National Assembly back in May 2024, aimed to suspend the revision proposed by the CRE in 2023.
The proposed revision sought to eliminate a riding each in Gaspésie and east-end Montreal while creating two new ridings, Marie-Lacoste-Gérin-Lajoie in the Centre-du-Québec region, and Bellefeuille in the Laurentians. Concerns had been raised by multiple Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) about the diminishing political influence of Gaspésie and the disproportionate size of its ridings.
According to Quebec law, the electoral map must be reviewed after every two general elections to address population shifts and ensure fair representation. The goal of the revision is to divide Quebec into 125 ridings with around 51,000 electors each, emphasizing shared characteristics.
Following a challenge by the Council of Prefects and Elected Officials of the Laurentides region (CPERL), the Court of Appeal overturned the Superior Court’s rejection of Bill 59. The court’s decision highlighted concerns about dilution of votes in the Estrie–Centre-du-Québec and Laurentides–Lanaudière regions and the importance of upholding the independent process defined in the Election Act.
This ruling paves the way for the CRE to submit a revised report to legislators before the parliamentary session concludes on Dec. 12.
