Procedure and House Affairs Committee on April 23rd, 2013

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

What is the population of the two electoral districts, the ridings of Saint-Maurice—Champlain and Joliette?

[Francine Raynault, NDP, Joliette, QC]

The populations of the two ridings are similar. There is not much difference between the two.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

All right.

[Francine Raynault, NDP, Joliette, QC]

We propose that the district of Joliette retain Manawan. In fact, with your permission, I would like to say that I am here because I am the spokesperson for the Atikamekw since I am their member. They could not be here since that is not possible in the circumstances. However, I want to say that they really want to stay in the electoral district of Joliette.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Yes. Their intentions are very clearly stated in their letter.

[Francine Raynault, NDP, Joliette, QC]

Yes.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

The other question is for Mr. Nicholls. It is a question about history.

Were there previously only two seigneuries in your region, between the two waterways, south of the Ottawa River and north of the St. Lawrence River?

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

There were three seigneuries: the seigneury of Vaudreuil, the seigneury of Soulanges and the seigneury of Nouvelle-Longueuil.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Did you say "seigneury of Nouvelle-Longueuil"?

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Yes, under the proposal, the seigneury of Nouvelle-Longueuil is currently attached to Salaberry, but we do not want to promote the name Longueuil because that would cause some confusion with the city of Longueuil, which is situated a little further to the east.

However, Mr. Reid, I can say that my fellow citizens are very much aware of the territory's history and heritage and its names and symbols are important to them. They wanted to change nothing. They wanted to retain the status quo and for Vaudreuil—Soulanges to remain intact. However, since the commission in Quebec City has parameters, we must take them into account . We have proposals and minor changes to suggest.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

I understand that. The same was true in my riding 10 years ago when we proposed a name change. It did not reflect the names of Frontenac or Lennox and Addington, which were very important to the residents of those regions.

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

I would like to add that people consider it strange that only one community south of the Ottawa River is included in Quebec. That is my territory, my electoral district. And that is because of the very large number of francophones who were living there when the decision was made concerning Lower Canada and Upper Canada. The decision was made to include that region in Quebec as a result of the many francophones in the area.

That is the only part south of the Ottawa River that belongs to Quebec. I consider that quite unusual.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you, Mr. Reid.

Madame Turmel.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My first question is for Ms. Raynault. It concerns consultation and the way the electoral district is drawn.

The new electoral district does not include Manawan. I am somewhat familiar with the region. I see that it mainly consists of forest. Can you tell me the names of the members for the neighbouring ridings and whether they were consulted before this change was made?

[Francine Raynault, NDP, Joliette, QC]

Yes, I spoke with Ms. Lise St-Denis about the situation. She told me she would not challenge the decision. She also agreed that Manawan should remain part of the electoral district of Joliette. Of the 1,108 electors in Manawan, 600 signed the petition, and Ms. St-Denis told me she would respect the people's decision.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

My second question concerns the first consultation that was held. You told us the question was never raised, even though you made your presentation to the commission.

[Francine Raynault, NDP, Joliette, QC]

That is correct, Ms. Turmel. When I appeared before the commission last October, there was no indication that Manawan would be transferred to another electoral district.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

All right.

Mr. Nicholls, with regard to the three municipalities that you mentioned and that you would like to see transferred back to your riding, can you show them to us on the map? I am trying to find them.

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

We see them here.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

To what other electoral district were those three municipalities transferred?

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

They are now in Ms. Quach's riding.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I see. And she would have no objection to them being transferred back to your riding?

[Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

No.

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

We consulted each other and organized public consultations together. That was not challenged by Ms. Quach.

Since those municipalities are not very accessible via Highway 20 in winter and lie to the northwest of Ms. Quach's riding, we think it makes more sense for them to be included in the electoral district of Vaudreuil than that of Salaberry. It is also because the riding office is located in Saint-Lazare, the neighbouring town to Sainte-Marthe. So it is much easier for the people from Sainte-Marthe, Très-Saint-Rédempteur and Sainte-Justine-de-Newton to travel to the Saint-Lazare office than to Ms. Quach's office in Valleyfield.