The district includes Montreal North and the eastern part of the neighbourhood of Sault-au-Récollet in the Borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville.

20.4% of the riding's population are of Haitian ethnic origin, the highest such percentage in Canada.

[2] Ethnic groups: 45.1% White, 29.4% Black, 11.8% Arab, 7.4% Latin American, 2% Southeast Asian, 1.2% South Asian Languages: 48.2% French, 7.5% Arabic, 7.5% Haitian Creole, 7.2% Spanish, 5.7% Italian, 4.6% English, 2.8% Creole, 1.8% Kabyle, 1.1% Turkish, 1% Vietnamese Religions: 60.6% Christian (39.8% Catholic, 2.3% Baptist, 1.8% Pentecostal), 19.3% No Religion, 18% Muslim, 1.1% Buddhist Median income: $33,200 (2020) Average income: $38,960 (2020) The electoral district of Bourassa was created in 1966 from Mercier and Laval ridings.

This riding has elected the following members of parliament: On 16 May 2013, Liberal MP Denis Coderre announced he would resign his seat on 2 June in order to run for Mayor of Montreal.

[9] The Chief Electoral Officer received official notification of the vacancy on 3 June 2013 and the by-election had to be called by 30 November 2013.