The draft new electoral map proposed by the Permanent Revision Commission provides for the elimination of two electoral districts, replaced by two new ones. MPs from all parties, surprised and unprepared for such changes, decided to postpone this reform until after the next elections. So it’s postponed. Among the solutions being considered, the one that seems the most likely because the easiest would be to increase the number of deputies by four or five.
This is unfortunately a false solution, which would perpetuate the problem without solving it. Every ten years, even more deputies would have to be added.
Remote and less populous regions rightly fear gradually losing influence in the National Assembly, in areas that closely affect them, such as education, health, agriculture, transport, etc. . The real solution is not to simply maintain the already weak influence of the regions in these matters, but rather to place them directly under the governance of the regions themselves, so that they are responsible for them. Which supposes a real regionalization of powers in Quebec, as has often been promised, but never achieved.
The regionalization of powers may seem distant, but it is increasingly necessary in Quebec, whatever its evolution. Already, sectors like health, education and public transportation have fallen prey to enormous bureaucracies, which are almost impossible to control centrally. The differences between cities themselves and between regions have become such that national rules and standards cannot successfully meet the diverse needs of each.
Centralization has marked its limits, and Quebec must resolve to share its powers with the regions in order to be more efficient and better respond to the demands of both populations and local authorities as well as employees themselves.
Regional government
It is unfortunate that regionalization does not seem to be one of the current government’s priorities. It is not currently the subject of any official research or analysis. However, it would be easy to remedy this. To do this, I suggest that an initiative mandate be given to the Public Administration Commission so that it undertakes, in consultation with the population, a mission of inquiry and research into the establishment of a true regional government in each of the 17 regions of Quebec. We know that such a commission can produce excellent results, as we have seen in the case of assistance in dying.
It goes without saying that regionalization of powers is not easy to achieve. It supposes a fine delimitation between national and regional powers; establishing new regional political structures and new electoral rules for regional leaders; a new tax sharing; an equalization system to establish financial equality between regions. But none of this is beyond our possibilities.
A regionalized Quebec would be much more democratic and easier to administer. For example, it would allow regions to mobilize to meet their needs and develop their economy according to their own characteristics. It would decentralize health and education structures and make it possible to adapt them according to regional realities. It would allow school buildings and sports equipment to be entrusted to local governments. It would facilitate relations between the government and the main cities in terms of planning and public transportation. It would bring citizens closer to places of power and improve the functioning of our democracy. It would obviously simplify the task of the commission responsible for revising the electoral map, which could concentrate on its main mission, which is to ensure a reasonable balance between the constituencies without having to increase the number of deputies.
It’s worth working for.