The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for British Columbia has finished its report redrawing the province’s federal electoral map. The report was tabled in the House of Commons on Monday, January 28.
British Columbia is gaining six electoral districts as a result of the increase in its population. Nearly two thirds of the province’s electoral districts are located in the Lower Mainland region, and five new electoral districts will be added there. The Vancouver Island region gains one new electoral district, while the 36 existing districts are reconfigured. The report follows the public hearings that took place across the province between September 10 and October 18, 2012.
Formerly part of the BC Southern Interior riding, Keremeos and the Lower Similkameen, as far west as the Ashnola valley, will now be in the new riding of South Okanagan West Kootenay, which now includes Penticton and the South Okanagan communities of Osoyoos and Oliver.
“Cutting Area “G” at Keremeos isn’t a good idea,” commented Keremeos Mayor Manfred Bauer on the changes.
“It’s ridiculous to create a riding that goes so far east - we have nothing in common with East Kootenay,” he added, noting further that local government services were located in Penticton, so being part of that city’s riding was not an issue.
Keremeos council submitted a letter to the boundary commission last fall voicing their concerns, but it appears that those comments were not taken into consideration.