Thank you for that good question. I must admit, it is a key question.
What we are seeing is that on the Island of Montreal, one riding in particular has experienced a significant demographic increase, which has a domino effect on many ridings where it would be easy to keep things the way they are without a problem. It is this domino effect that concerns us and we think the current situation is manageable.
I am talking only about the proposed changes for Montreal. I cannot talk about the proposed changes for your riding or certain rural regions that I have not looked at. In Montreal, however, these changes will have many adverse effects and would stem from a single riding.
What is more, the demographic weight of Montreal compared to the rest of Quebec has remained identical since 2012. The demographic rapport between Montreal and the regions has therefore remained the same, as has the number of ridings. I think the current situation is manageable.
It is not just the number of inhabitants that needs to be considered. It is the notion of community of interest, mentioned in the legislation, that is not being respected and that is what we are emphasizing. For example, the people from Plateau‑Mont‑Royal, who live east of Boulevard Saint‑Denis to Parc Laurier will never say that they live in Outremont. They would be quite surprised to hear that. This will cause a great deal of confusion among the population when it comes to federal services and the services provided at federal riding offices. That is what we absolutely want to avoid.