Federal Electoral Boundary Commission out to lunch!!

[coffeeFreak]

This proposal is ridiculous and I can't help but wonder why our local MP hasn't spoken out. Hello...Colin Mayes where are you?

Falkland gets tossed from federal riding

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star
Published: July 13, 2012 1:00 AM

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission is proposing Falkland leave the Okanagan-Shuswap riding and be put into a new riding with downtown Kelowna, Summerland, Merritt, Logan Lake and Princeton.

“It’s a bit of a joke,” said Rene Talbot, Falkland’s Columbia-Shuswap Regional District director.

Talbot points out that his area is linked to Salmon Arm through the CSRD and its secondary students go to school in Armstrong.

“Ninety per cent of the people shop in Vernon and they work in Vernon,” he said, adding that Falkland has no social and economic connections to the communities in the proposed Central Okanagan-Coquihalla riding.

“It doesn’t make sense to put us in with Summerland and Kelowna.”

Talbot is concerned residents of his community would not have easy access to their federal epresentative.

“Where would our MP be located? If you wanted to have a meeting with their office staff, you’d have to drive to Kelowna or wherever they are located,” he said.

Talbot will be launching a formal protest of the proposal and he is urging residents to do the same.

“The boundary should be left as it is,” he said.

Other proposed changes to Okanagan-Shuswap would include moving the area between Blind Bay and Chase into Central Okanagan-Coquihalla and Chase into Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo.

Okanagan-Shuswap — which could become known as North Okanagan-Shuswap — would see its population go from 121,062 to 112,399. The average sought for each riding is 104,763.

Canada’s electoral districts are reviewed every 10 years by independent commissions to account for shifts and growth in the population.

“It’s a challenge when you come to the rural areas of B.C.,” said Stewart Ladyman, with the Electoral Boundaries Commission and a former Vernon resident.

“There’s decreasing population in rural areas and increasing population in urban areas.”

Other factors considered when changing boundaries are communities of interest, history and geography.

Ladyman admits there may be concerns about shifting Falkland from Okanagan-Shuswap.

“We’re well aware of those types of discussions. We’re willing to listen to people and see if adjustments can be made,” he said.

There will be public input sessions Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Kelowna Ramada Hotel and Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Kamloops Convention Centre.

Those wanting to make a presentation at a hearing are requested to register by Aug. 30 at [email protected] or by writing 1095 West Pender St., Suite 301, Vancouver, B.C., V6E 2M6.

http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/162275976.html

[dg3]

who gives a crap, federal elections are rigged to favor the easterners anyway. bc+alberta population > quebec, yet we have 11 less seats, which gives quebec about 1.1 million more imaginary people, or about 850000 more imaginary votes.
dont bother voting, you will only perpetuate the election fraud taking place in canada.

[GordonH]

who gives a crap, federal elections are rigged to favor the easterners anyway. bc+alberta population > quebec, yet we have 11 less seats, which gives quebec about 1.1 million more imaginary people, or about 850000 more imaginary votes.
dont bother voting, you will only perpetuate the election fraud taking place in canada.

In next Federal election they are added to BC & Alberta which adds up to 76 seats & Quebec will have 78 seats. So dg3 you may want to cast your vote in 2015.

To OP electoral boundaries are changing to add 7 more seats in BC.

[bob vernon]

It's far better to move left leaning areas out of seats that might be at risk in the next election. And park them in another riding that is either going to vote the right way or the wrong way more heavily. That way, the result in the next election is favorable. The Federal Electoral boundary Commission isn't "out to lunch". They know exactly what they're doing.

Sir John A Macdonald did this same thing. He called it "hiving the Grits".

And as far as Colin Mayes saying anything to stop this move of Falkland out of his constituency........ don't hold your breath.