City council adopts by-law to change electoral wards

Sep 16, 2025

At its September public meeting, Edmundston City Council officially adopted a new municipal by-law dividing the municipality into three electoral wards, which are geographically divided along the three main axes of the municipality and combine wards 2 and 5 as well as wards 3 and 4. Ward 1 remains in its entirety.

This decision marks the conclusion of a rigorous and formal process, including a notice of intent resolution, the publication of public notices, and three readings at public meetings. Following its adoption by Council, the by-law must now receive its stamp of approval from the Department of Local Government and be filed with the Municipal Electoral Officer.

The division of the municipality into three electoral wards is the result of recommendations made last spring by the independent review committee, made up of citizens and chaired by retired judge George Pérusse. Following a wide range of public consultations, the committee recommended the creation of three wards, each represented by an elected official, to ensure more equitable representation of the population on the municipal council.

"We wanted to respect the spirit and the letter of the review committee's recommendations, which reflect a desire to strengthen local democracy. This change is intended to ensure that all voices, in all sectors of Edmundston, can be fairly represented," said mayor Eric Marquis.

The City of Edmundston will soon be releasing more details to explain in concrete terms what this change means for electors, with a view to the next municipal elections in May 2026.

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CONTACT: Eric Marquis, Mayor of Edmundston, 506.739.2115