Manicouagan (Quebec) 172/338

 Manicouagan (Quebec)

Today we're in eastern Quebec with Manicouagan!

Manicouagan has existed as a riding since 1966, created from Charlevoix and Saguenay. The population of the riding was 88,525 in 2021. The riding contains the communities of Sept-Îles (24,569 in 2021), Baie-Comeau (20,687 in 2021), and Port-Cartier (6,516 in 2021). The riding is not contiguous, with the communities of Schefferville and Kawawachikamach detached from the rest of the riding.

Politically, this seat has been Bloc for all but four years since the Bloc was created. It was won very easily by the Liberals pre-1984, but swung by a staggering 56% in 1984 towards the PC's. There was a similar staggering swing towards the Bloc in 1993, swinging 55%. This seat swung 44% toward the NDP in 2011, the second highest in Quebec. The seat is currently held by Bloc MP Marilène Gill.

In 1984, MP and Progressive Conservative MP Brian Mulroney won his seat here, along with much of the country, rural and urban. Mulroney had been elected in a by-election in Central Nova in August 1983 following his party leadership win in June 1983. Mulroney's PCs were elected to a large majority government in 1984, the last time a party won more than 50% of the ballots cast. In 2019, this seat was 65/78 in Quebec and 275/338 in Canada by margin.

The name is great, might honestly be one of my favourite Quebec names: regional county municipality as well as a large reservoir created by an asteroid? Love it. The shape is okay, not really a fan of non-contiguous, but they usually have to do with municipal boundaries. As for individuality, this riding sure loves to swing and then stop for a rest.

See you tomorrow in Marc-Aurèle Fortin!