177. The Minister determines in advance the population of each related municipality, based on an estimate of the Institut de la statistique du Québec and taking into account the territory of each related municipality as it will stand following the reorganization of the city. The Minister may determine in the same manner the population of a borough as it will stand following the reorganization.
The Minister publishes a notice of the populations figures so determined in the Gazette officielle du Québec.
A population figure so determined by the Minister is valid until replaced by the population figure determined in an order made under section 29 of the Act respecting municipal territorial organization (chapter O‐9) that takes into account the reorganization of the city.