Commentaire 21 (Le 13 octobre 2022) – commentaires et rétroaction

Patricia Lattanzio (députée)

Dear Sir, Madame,

The Constitution of Canada mandates a review of electoral boundaries after each decennial census to reflect Canada's population changes and movements.

Over the years, the riding of Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel has undergone changes, but one constant in all the past boundaries redistribution processes has been the fact that the integrity of the entire territory of Saint-Leonard has been maintained.

The present riding of Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel is therefore composed of the whole municipal borough of Saint-Leonard, and the east part of the municipal borough of Saint-Michel.

The riding of Saint-Leonard - Saint-Michel was created in the 1996 redistribution process which came into force in 1997. Therefore, the present riding has existed well over twenty-five years. Prior to that, the riding was composed of Saint- Leonard alone, and this from 1988 to 1997.

The riding of Saint-Leonard-Anjou existed from 1979 to 1988.

The Anjou portion of the riding disappeared in 1988, and the neighboring Anjou-Rivieres des Prairies was created (1988-2004), the latter becoming Honore-Mercier in 2004.

The present riding of Honore-Mercier is composed of the municipal borough of Anjou, a part of the municipal borough of Riviere-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles, as well as a part of the municipal borough of Mercier-Hochelaga Maisonneuve.

In establishing the electoral district boundaries, the Commission must take into consideration the "communities of interest", "the communities of identity" as well as the "historical pattern of an electoral district".

A community of interest can be defined as a community of people who share a common interests, common history or culture, common religion, as well as a common ethnic background.

A community of identity indicates the particularity and distinguishing features of a community.

The proposed changes to the existing electoral boundaries of the riding of Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel means that it will take the area starting from all along Blvd Langelier, the east side of it, up until the end of the current border.

The delimitation cannot and should not be done in an arbitrary fashion, as the proposed changes will affect the pre-existing communities of interest and of identity of Saint-Leonard.

Since the early 2000, the Muslim and Maghreb community has been growing and flourishing in the municipal borough of Saint-Leonard.

To ensure that the Muslim and Maghreb community receives the religious, moral and help they need, the BADR Islamic Center, known as the BADR Mosque, is present in order to provide the necessary assistance to its community members.

The great number of its members who attend and participate in the Center's activities reside in Saint-Leonard. The mosque is not only a place of worship for them, but a point of reference which offers them a sense of belonging.

Furthermore, the Centre and mosque have benefitted from various programs, such as Service Canada and Summer jobs offered by the federal government from funds attributed to the current riding of Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel. The community and the present riding office have created and maintained excellent ties between themselves over the years.

The said mosque is situated on the east side of Blvd Langelier and adjacent to Saint Leonard's industrial sector.

The proposed boundary modification would now have the mosque part of the riding of Honor-Mercier.

Created in 2005, the Bureau Associatif pour la Diversite et la Reinsertion (B.A.D.R) of Saint-Leonard, is a non-profit organisation offering essential services to Saint-Leonard's Muslim community. A large part of its raison d'être is to help vulnerable families residing in Saint-Leonard.

Whether through its food aid services, collection and distribution of furniture, clothing or household appliances, B.A.D.R Saint- Leonard is an essential reference point for vulnerable families of Magrebin origin. The Centre is also situated on the east side of Langelier boulevard and adjacent to Saint-Leonard's industrial sector. Once again, with the proposed boundary modification the Centre would become part of the Honore-Mercier riding.

The proposed modification would also affect Saint-Leonard's long-established Haitian community, as their church, L'Eglise de Dieu de la Fraternite, is located inside Saint-Leonard's industrial sector, more specifically on Champ d'Eau street and is currently being proposed to become part of the Honore-Mercier riding.

Another cultural community which has lived and thrived and thrived in Saint-Leonard since the late 1960's is the Italian community. Numerous Italians residing in Saint-Leonard have built respectable businesses over the years, and most of which are primarily located in Saint-Leonard's industrial sector

Saint-Leonard's industrial sector includes many families owned and operated businesses such as a renowned dairy and cheese company, a well-known nursery, automotive services, construction enterprises, tile and ceramics manufacturers and distributers, industrial and innovative companies, food distributors, mostly run and operated by residents of Saint-Leonard, and who partake in local charities and events in order to continue to support the Italian community.

These various companies have and continue to employ thousands of residents of Saint-Leonard and have helped build a strong and vibrant Italian community.

They also benefitted from programs and assistance offered by the federal government through the current riding office of Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel.

The above captures a brief snapshot of the industries which are situated in Saint-Leonard's industrial area, and a central part of the riding that serves and caters to the various ethnic communities that have formed the riding of Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel.

It must be noted that various individuals and representatives of the organizations and industries mentioned above, are also well anchored in the community environment of Saint-Leonard, and are active members of several social and economic committees and groups, in both the borough and riding of Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel.

With the proposed boundary changes, Saint-Leonard would lose its historic and cultural footprint omnipresent in the industrial sector.

On the other hand, we are well aware that the basis of the redistribution process is to ensure population equity among the federal ridings.

That being said, the latest data informs us that riding of Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel has a population of 115 553 people and the proposed electoral boundary redistribution would bring it to a population of 114 538 people, allowing 1015 people to become part of the Honore-Mercier riding.

It is important to note that:

From the east side of Blvd Langelier to the end of the current border of Saint-Leonard and north side of rue Bombardier to the end of the current border of Saint-Leonard —Saint-Michel, forms a rectangular area made up of mostly residential properties and contains all of the 1015 residents which the proposed redistribution boundary aims to move over to the riding of Honore- Mercier, in order ensure population equity.

We therefore suggest that the electoral boundaries be reviewed in consideration of the delimitations described above and depicted on the enclosed map, so that the neighboring riding of Honore Mercier receive the 1015 people, and Saint-Leonard keep the rest of the current boundaries of the industrial area, ensuring that the industries, mosques, churches and the various companies contained therein, remain in the riding of Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel.

Trusting that the Commission will consider the above, as it fulfills its objective of ensuring population equity as well as taking into account the riding's specificity with regards to its communities of identity and communities of interest.