Even if Quebec’s chief electoral officer considers the issue closed, some minority and municipal leaders in Montreal are mobilizing to fight the province’s new electoral map. As the groundswell of opposition grows, some are talking about raising funds for a possible legal challenge to the new map, which west end politicians consider a stab in the back due to previous assurances it wouldn’t change. And the Greek community in Laval is in the same foul mood, saying the new map is splitting their community between two ridings. In fact, the new map has the community’s largest orthodox church, Holy Cross, in one riding while the parishioners are in another.
“Manon Massé must be be happy,” an angry Chomedey MNA Guy Ouellette said in reference to the change, which means the loss of 2,500 of his riding’s voters. “The map suits her. I can tell you what the consequence here will be. People won’t vote.”
“The result is undemocratic,” added veteran Montreal city councillor Marvin Rotrand, who has been mounting a campaign against changes to the map on the island. “It will be up to the citizens to fight this. A legal challenge is being examined.”
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre has waded in, describing the new map — which will mean Montreal has 27 ridings instead of 28 — as disappointing because it reduces the city’s political clout in the National Assembly. “It’s unacceptable when we know the population of Montreal never stops growing,” Coderre said.
Full Article: Minorities and municipalities challenge Quebec’s new electoral map | Montreal Gazette.