Montreal, December 5, 2001 - The final report on the new electoral map tabled today by the Commission de la représentation électorale (CRE) represents a serious infringement of one of the most basic principles of our democratic system: the equity of every vote, declared Guy Fréchette, president of the Board of Trade.
Fréchette did not hide his deep disagreement with the fact that, by reducing from 30 to 28 the number of ridings on the Island of Montreal, the new electoral map, which is about to be adopted, will penalize voters in urban centres in favour of those in other Quebec regions.
The president of the Board of Trade sent his comments on this subject to Guy Chevrette, Minister responsible for electoral reform, as well as to all the members for the Island of Montreal, including Louise Harel, Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Metropolis; to Premier Bernard Landry; to Jean Charest, Leader of the official opposition; and to Mario Dumont, head of Action démocratique.
| For more information about the position of the Board of Trade on this issue, read the full text of the letter sent to Mr. Chevrette, attached to this press release. The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has more than 7 000 members. Its mission is to be the leading group representing the interests of the Greater Montreal business community. The objectives are to maintain, at all times, relevance to its membership, credibility towards the media and influence towards government and decision-makers. |