Quebec's Democratic Institutions Minister Nathalie Roy introduced a bill to increase the province's provincial electoral ridings from 125 [1] to 127 [1].

The measure ensures that residents in specific regions maintain their political voice after an independent commission redrew the electoral map. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the province's attempt to delay the adoption of that new map.

The legislation aims to preserve two ridings [1], one in the Gaspé Peninsula and one in Montreal, that would have otherwise been lost under the commission's redistribution. Additionally, the bill creates two new ridings [1] to account for population growth in Central Quebec and the Laurentians.

"We must ensure that Quebecers in Gaspé and Montreal continue to have effective representation in the National Assembly," Roy said.

The bill was tabled in June 2024 to ensure the new boundaries are in place before the next provincial election. The government's previous effort to postpone the map's implementation was deemed invalid by the court.

Legal analyst Michael Bouchard said the Supreme Court’s decision makes clear that the province cannot sidestep the work of the independent electoral boundaries commission.

Opposition parties have signaled their support for the increase in seats. "All opposition parties stand behind the bill because it protects our communities from losing a voice," Opposition leader Dominique Anglade said.

The independent commission's original map had proposed cutting ridings in Montreal and Gaspé, creating the tension that led to this legislative intervention. By increasing the total number of seats, the government intends to satisfy the commission's population requirements while maintaining geographic representation.

“"We must ensure that Quebecers in Gaspé and Montreal continue to have effective representation in the National Assembly."”

This legislative shift highlights the tension between 'one person, one vote' population parity and the need for geographic representation in sparsely populated or culturally distinct regions. By expanding the National Assembly, Quebec is attempting to reconcile the mandatory findings of an independent commission with the political necessity of maintaining visibility for the Gaspé Peninsula and Montreal.