On September 16, Bloc Québécois representative Claude DeBellefeuille announced that the name of the federal riding formally known as Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon will now be Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent. This change was made in accordance with Bill C-25’s provisions, which were made official on June 18 of this year.
This bill was originally introduced on March 26 and was pitched to change the names of some federal ridings to better reflect identities of the ridings they represent. This riding was one of those affected.
Claude DeBellefeuille, the Member of Parliament for the Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent, explains that this is not the first time the area’s name has changed. “Over the years, our riding has gone by various names, including Beauharnois-Salaberry, Salaberry-Suroît, and, more recently, Beauharnois-Salaberry-Soulanges-Huntingdon. I have had the privilege of representing the citizens of our region under each of these names, and I am deeply honoured to continue this commitment today under the name Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent,” she said.
“I am delighted to see this new name officially take effect, as it better represents our region and the communities that make it up. Vallée-du-Haut-Saint-Laurent is a unifying name that reflects our collective identity and our sense of belonging to this same territory,” she said, concluding that “It also marks a new chapter in the history of our region and its representation in the House of Commons.” (CF)