January 11, 2002
Quebec to review provincial
electoral system
Study will look at possibility
of separate Nunavik riding
JANE
GEORGE
MONTREAL Theres
still a glimmer of hope that Nunavimmiut will one day have their own provincial
riding.
Just before Quebecs
elected members broke for their winter holidays on Dec. 19, the national assemblys
Commission on Institutions unanimously decided to take a global look at Quebecs
electoral system.
This review will open the
door once again for some change in Quebecs electoral map.
Despite promises from the
Parti Québécois government, last months redistribution of
Quebecs electoral map didnt take Nunavik out of its current Ungava
riding.
"The commission will
look at several precise questions which are already being publicly debated,
such as the possibility of creating a riding for Nunavik," said Roger Bertrand,
MNA for Portneuf and president of the commission.
The commission will evaluate
voting procedures in Quebec, study different possibilities for reform and consider
the wider issues concerning electoral representation.
According to Quebecs
existing electoral act, every riding should represent an equal number of people.
Quebecs ridings represent
an average of 42,713 residents, although there are six ridings that dont
fit this norm.
At 21,893 residents, Ungava
has the second smallest population of any riding in Quebec.
The commission plans to
hold public hearings throughout Quebec and will announce its schedule
this month.
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