New Quebec federal elections boundaries

Jamie Nicholls, NDP member of parliament for Vaudreuil-Soulanges, said he wants to consult his constituents about the looming boundary changes to his riding.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission is recommending changing more than two thirds of Quebec's ridings.

Nicholls said the commission was asked to redraw the electoral map, keeping three issues in mind: a riding's population, its communities of interest and the riding's identity.

He said he doesn't think political pressure played a role in the commissioners recommendations.

"There's only 20 ridings that are remaining basically the same in Quebec, so there will be changes, but we're still studying and analyzing what that means."

Nicholls said he will attend the public hearings the three commissioners will be holding later this year.

As it stands, Quebec has 75 federal ridings. The province will send 78 members to parliament in the future.

The province could soon have three new federal electoral ridings and lose another.

The commission is recommending that three new ridings be added to Montreal's north shore because of its growing population.

However, recommendations indicate that an eastern Quebec may have to downsize on the number of ridings. The riding of Haute-Gaspsie-La-Mitis-Matane-Matapdia was included in surrounding ridings.

It even proposes some name changes to commemorate famous Quebeckers. Names like Maurice-Richard riding in Montreal and Gilles-Villeneuve in Lanaudire.

A public meeting is set for October 19 in Montreal to discuss and announce the remainder of the federal boundary changes.