POLITICS. Bloc Québécois MNA Martin Champoux submitted his letter last Thursday in response to the proposed electoral reallocation of the riding of Drummond. This motion was made following public hearings by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Quebec.

It should be noted that as part of the 2022 Electoral Map Revision, the Commission is proposing to withdraw four MRC municipalities from the Drummond Electoral Division. This redistribution process, which takes place every ten years, is designed to reflect population movements in the country in order to even out the distribution of seats in the lower house. In this sense, Saint-Pie-de-Guire, Saint-Guillaume, Saint-Eugène and Sainte-Brigitte-des-Saults would be taken over by the Electoral Department of Bécancour-Nicolet-Saurel to fill the latter’s population deficit. . A proposal opposed by the member for Drummond, but also by the mayors of the MRC of Drummond.

“I strongly oppose the change in riding from Drummond. I had the opportunity to express my opposition to the Commission and to substantiate my arguments in the memorandum that I have just submitted,” says Martin Champoux.

In its brief, the MNA for Drummond relies on the increased difficulty in providing local services to the four communities affected by the proposal, as well as the apparent disadvantage caused by the division of communities of interest between local actors.

“I emphasize how the disappearance of four municipalities would make it harder for citizens and elected officials to access federal services and reduce their chances of benefiting from federal grant programs like New Horizons for Seniors or Canada Summer Jobs,” the Bloc- MPs.

“I am aware that the Commission is puzzled. However, if the sole aim is to compensate for the demographic deficit of the neighboring constituency, this is not a valid argument. Riding Drummond has the particularity of counting the eighteen parishes of the MRC. The cohesion that prevails there enables opportunities for advice, such as the standardization of resources and services,” he argues.

The process of reviewing objections raised by federal lawmakers will continue until 2023, when the Redistribution Commission will present its final proposal in the House of Commons.

“I sincerely hope that common sense will prevail and that the decision is to uphold the unity and integrity of riding Drummond, a position for which I have the full support of all the communities of the MRC,” concludes Martin Champoux, who is tracking continue to pay close attention to the work of the Commission. (CGM)