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Proposed boundary changes for federal ridings would split the Similkameen

Local MP Alex Atamanenko is particularly concerned that this year’s proposed changes will negatively impact the Similkameen.
32183keremeosPicture2
New riding boundaries being proposed would split the Similkameen. West of Keremeos would be part of the Central Okanagan - Coquihalla

Boundary changes for federal electoral districts change every 10 year, but local MP Alex Atamanenko is particularly concerned that this year’s proposed changes will negatively impact the Similkameen.

The Similkameen Valley would be cut in half at Keremeos under the proposal. Lands west of Keremeos would split off, and  Hedley and Princeton would become part of the Central Okanagan - Coquihalla riding.

Some of the concerns raised by Atamanenko include:

- Historical patterns. Some changes would see communities form part of an electoral district for the first time in 100 years.

- The Similkameen valley shares identities and interests around such things as watershed management, tourism and economic development, and it probably doesn’t make sense to split the valley in two.

- Highway 3 is an important transportation corridor that ties in the flow of community life, goods and services and the natural flow from rural to nearby towns for service and business.

- Rural communities have more in common with each other than interests in larger centres. Rural issues can receive less attention when there is a seat based in major population centre.

- The new boundaries will make it harder for the people to reach their constituents.

Hearings will be held this fall, one of which will take place in Penticton at the Lakeside Resort on Tuesday, October 9 at 7 p.m.

Presently, the British Columbia Southern Interior  riding has  existing boundaries consisting of:

(a) the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary;

(b) that part of the Regional District of Central Kootenay comprised of:

(i) the cities of Castlegar and Nelson;

(ii) the villages of Kaslo, New Denver, Salmo, Silverton and Slocan;

(iii) subdivisions E, F, G, H, I and J;

(iv) that part of Subdivision D lying southerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the southwesterly production of Cooper Creek with the easterly limit of Subdivision H of the Regional District of Central Kootenay; thence generally northeasterly along said production and said creek to the Duncan River; thence northerly along said river to Hamill Creek; thence generally northeasterly along said creek and its production to the easterly limit of Subdivision D of said regional district; and

(c) that part of the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen comprised of: the towns of Oliver, Osoyoos and Princeton; the Village of Keremeos; subdivisions “A”, “B”, “C”, “G” and “H”.

The changes would see the Similkameen sharing two electoral districts:

Central Okanagan—Coquihalla

(Population: 107,929), consisting of (locally):

(a) that part of the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen comprised of:

(i) the District Municipality of Summerland;

(ii) the Town of Princeton;

(iii) that part of Subdivision D lying northerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the southerly limit of said subdivision with Highway No. 3A; thence generally northeasterly along said highway to the southerly limit of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1;

(iv) Subdivision F, excepting those parts described as follows:

(A) commencing at the intersection of the easterly limit of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1 with the southerly limit of the District Municipality of Summerland; thence easterly along the limit of said district municipality and its production to the easterly limit of said subdivision; thence southerly along the easterly limit of said subdivision to the limit of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1; thence generally northerly along the easterly limit of said Indian reserve to the point of commencement;

(B) that part surrounded by the Penticton No. 1 Indian Reserve;

(v) that part of Subdivision G lying westerly and northerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the northerly limit of said subdivision with Highway No. 3A; thence southerly along said highway to Keremeos Bypass Road; thence southwesterly along said road to Crowsnest Highway (Highway No. 3); thence westerly along said highway to Ashnola Road; thence generally westerly along said road to the easterly limit of Ashnola Indian Reserve No. 10; thence generally southerly and westerly along the limits of said Indian reserve to its intersection with longitude 120°00’W; thence southerly along said longitude to the southerly limit of said subdivision; including Ashnola Indian Reserve No. 10 and Alexis Indian Reserve No. 9; excepting the Village of Keremeos;

(vi) Subdivision H;

(vii) excepting Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1;

South Okanagan—West Kootenay

(Population: 114,676 )

(c) that part of the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen comprised of:

(i) the City of Penticton;

(ii) the towns of Oliver and Osoyoos;

(iii) the Village of Keremeos;

(iv) subdivisions A, B, C and E;

(v) that part of Subdivision D lying easterly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the southerly limit of said subdivision with Highway No. 3A; thence generally northeasterly along said highway to the southerly limit of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1;

(vi) those parts of Subdivision F described as follows:

(A) commencing at the intersection of the easterly limit of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1 with the southerly limit of the District Municipality of Summerland; thence easterly along the limit of said district municipality and its production to the easterly limit of said subdivision; thence southerly along the easterly limit of said subdivision to the limit of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1; thence generally northerly along the easterly limit of said Indian reserve to the point of commencement;

(B) that part surrounded by the Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1;

(vii) that part of Subdivision G lying easterly and southerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the northerly limit of said subdivision with Highway No. 3A; thence southerly along said highway to Keremeos Bypass Road; thence southwesterly along said road to Crowsnest Highway (Highway No. 3); thence westerly along said highway to Ashnola Road; thence generally westerly along said road to the easterly limit of Ashnola Indian Reserve No. 10; thence generally southerly and westerly along the limits of said Indian reserve to its intersection with longitude 120°00’W; thence southerly along said longitude to the southerly limit of said subdivision; excepting Ashnola Indian Reserve No. 10;

(viii) Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1.

More information can be found at:

 

www.redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca