In the upcoming 2015 general election, British Columbia will gain an additional six seats, for a total of 42. This change will generate boundary changes to every riding in our province.

Based on the current recommendation, a portion of the south-west corner of Saanich-Gulf Islands will move to the renamed riding of Esquimalt-Colwood.

Specifically, those living south of McKenzie Avenue, west of Quadra Street down to Cook Street, then west of Cook Street, north of Tolmie Avenue, east of Douglas Street to Tattersall Drive, southeast of Tattersall Drive to Patricia Bay Highway, and east of Patricia Bay Highway, are affected.

The next stage of this process will be a series of hearings, being held across the province by the independent commission from September 10th to October 18th. This includes one near the riding at the Victoria Conference Centre on October 17th at 7pm.

Anyone may make a presentation before the commission, offering their opinion of the proposed changes. To do so, written notice must be given to the commission no later than August 30th.

For more information on the independent commission, the proposed riding boundary changes or the upcoming hearings:

• Online: http://bit.ly/bc-redistribution
• Phone: 1-855-747-7236
• Email: bc-cb@rfed-rcf.ca
• Mail: 1095 West Pender Street, Suite 301, Vancouver, BC V6E 2M6

The post Riding Redistribution appeared first on Elizabeth May.

“I simply wanted to know on what criteria the Government of Canada plans to determine the new boundaries for ridings,” said May.  “In particular, are riding boundaries being re-drawn due to population or due to the population of Conservatives?”

The Conservative Riding Association newsletter describes several ways the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands could be redrawn, concluding, “Any likely redistribution scenario will either make the results of the last election closer, or make us the winners.”

Question Period Transcript:

Elizabeth: Thank you Mr. Speaker,

Earlier today I shared with the Minister for Democratic Reform the newsletter of the Saanich Gulf Islands Conservative Party. As you know, I’m so proud to represent the people of Saanich Gulf Islands, and I’m sure he’ll be as distressed as I am by that party’s transparent plan for gerrymandering in the hopes of winning the riding back. They write, “If you remove South of Mackenzie, lose the Gulf Islands, lose Gordon Head -well, you remove all these three areas-well, we would have won the last election.” Will the Minister reassure us that the redistribution will be by population and not by population of Conservative voters?

Speaker: The Hon. Government House Leader

Hon. Peter Van Loan:  Thank you Mr. Speaker,

The statute is quite clear, it sets out a process for redistribution that’s run on a non-partisan basis by independent commissions. Those will be under way in the appropriate time, but under our legislation we will ensure that there is a formula in place that ensures the people of Saanich Gulf Islands, of British Columbia, in fact, of all of Canada will have fair representation that has long been denied to them.

The post “Riding boundaries redrawn to benefit Conservative party?” May asks appeared first on Elizabeth May.