The Regional Impacts of Local Government Reforms in Quebec. The Case of Saguenay
Local government reforms are popular in Western societies these days. The province of Québec (Canada) is not different in this regard. The 2001 municipal reform has resulted in major changes, namely the amalgamation of numerous towns and cities in and around six key metropolitan areas (Montréal, Québec City, Gatineau, Saguenay, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières). This article attempts to explore the land use planning and local democracy issues that face newly elected bodies. The case of Saguenay is used as an example of an average city based in a resource-economy region. Saguenay was created through the merger of Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie and four other municipalities. The merger has been difficult to implement in a multi-centred urban region with strong local identities.