Jeanne-Le Ber

This riding, in the southwest corner of the Island of Montreal, runs from the St. Lawrence River in the east to Autoroute Ville Marie in the west, from Rue Université and Highway 10 in the north to Boulevard La Verendyre, Boulevard Desmarchais, Rue Laurendeau and Avenue l'Eglise in the south.

This riding includes lower-income areas such as Verdun and Pointe-St-Charles and the more affluent residential area of Nun's Island. Retail trade, the service sector and manufacturing, including Imperial Tobacco, are the major industries in this riding.

The majority of the population is francophone, but over 18 per cent have English as a mother tongue. A diverse riding, the total immigrant population is over 21 per cent, with Chinese, Spanish, Arabic and Italian communities.

Thirty per cent of residents over age 25 have a university certificate or degree. According to the 2006 census, 70 per cent rent their homes. The average family income is $68,564 and unemployment is 9.6 per cent.

In 2004, all of the riding of Verdun-St-Henri-St-Paul-Pointe-St-Charles and 12 per cent of Westmount-Ville Marie were combined to create Jeanne Le Ber. This riding existed as Verdun from 1933 to 1947 and from 1952 to 1980. In the 1976 redistribution, the riding became Verdun-St-Paul. In 1996, part of St-Henri-Westmount was added and the riding was established as Verdun-St-Henri. The name changed to Verdun-St-Henri-St-Paul-Pointe-St-Charles in 2000.

Population: 112,863 (2006 census; an increase of 9.5% since 2001)

Political History

The 2006 election saw Bloc Québécois candidate Thierry St-Cyr bounce back from a narrow defeat in 2004, defeating Liberal incumbent Liza Frulla.

Frulla, formerly Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for the Status of Women in Paul Martin's cabinet, was re-elected here in 2004 by 72 votes, narrowly defeating St-Cyr and the Bloc. Frulla was first elected after being appointed a candidate by then-prime minister Jean Chrétien in a 2002 byelection. She was named minister of Canadian heritage and minister responsible for the status of women in July 2004.

In 2000, in Verdun-St-Henri, Raymond Lavigne defeated BQ candidate Pedro Utillano to win a second term. He was first elected in Verdun-St-Paul in 1993. Lavigne was appointed to Senate in 2002.

Liberal Bryce Mackasey held the riding of Verdun-St-Paul from 1962 until 1976 when he resigned. He served as minister of labour, minister of manpower and immigration, postmaster general and minister of consumer and corporate affairs.

Liberal Raymond Savard won a byelection in 1977 and was re-elected in 1979 and 1980. Progressive Conservative Gilbert Chartrand won in 1984 and 1988. In 1990, he resigned from the PC caucus to join the BQ. He rejoined the PC caucus in April of 1991 and didn't run in 1993.

Verdun/Verdun-St-Paul:

• 1935 - CONS
• 1940-1957 inclusive - LIB
• 1958 - PC
• 1962-1980 inclusive - LIB
• 1984, 1988 - PC
• 1993, 1997, 2000, 2002 byelection - LIB

Jeanne Le Ber:

• 2004 - LIB
• 2006 - BQ