Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec) 149/338

 Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec)

Today we're in Lac-Saint-Jean! 

Lac-Saint-Jean has existed as a riding since 1925 to present, getting drawn out from 2004-2015. The population of the riding was 104,911 in 2016. The population centers are Alma (30,776 in 2016), Dolbeau-Mistassini (14,250 in 2016), and Saint-Félicien (10,238 in 2016). Previous to 1949, the riding was named Lake St. John/Lake St-John—Roberval.

Politically, this seat has gone through some wild swings, even for Quebec standards. First of all, the seat was a PC-Bloc Quebecois seat in 1993, which warranted a 60% Bloc swing. In 2007, the seat was taken back by the Conservatives with a 23% swing. In a 2017 by-election, the seat swung 20% to the Liberals, swinging 20% to the Bloc in the next general election. The seat is currently held by Bloc MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe.

One of the two MP's to represent this area in from 1988-1996 was Lucien Bouchard. Bouchard was a Mulroney cabinet minister, who either resigned or was fired by Mulroney (depends who you ask) after declaring himself a Quebec Sovereigntist. Bouchard formed the Bloc Québécois with seven other MP's at the time (five PC, two Liberal). In the subsequent federal election, the Bloc won 54 seats out of the 75 Quebec seats, forming the official opposition due to the Reform Party falling short by two seats. It should also be noted that Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe is the son of the first elected Bloc MP Gilles Duceppe. In 2019, this seat was 38/78 in Quebec and 173/338 in Canada by margin.

The name is really good, Lac Saint Jean is a name used for the region, the lake, and the historical counties. The shape is also pretty good, I like that they kept all the lakeshore communities together this time. As for individuality, it is interesting how often this seat has changed in unconventional ways.

Tomorrow we're in Montreal with Lac-Saint-Louis!