In 2003, the gnomes of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission, in their wisdom, moved the Pemberton area into an expanded Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding -a bad move in our view, given that area's historic and geographic ties to Whistler, Squamish and the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Now, it's not the gnomes but a group of elected officials who are contemplating taking that mistake from the merely sublime to the downright ridiculous.
It seems a group that includes Conservative MPs John Weston and Mark Strahl has submitted a proposal that would see both Pemberton AND Whistler become part of a new Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon riding, centered in Abbotsford. Under this proposal, the term "Sea to Sky" would no longer be attached to the riding (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country) that includes Squamish.
One small benefit to the MPs' proposal: Powell River would not be forced to join a huge riding called Vancouver Island North, as is proposed by the commission, which is also proposing to right the wrong done when Pemberton was moved by allowing Whistler, Pemberton and Squamish to be reunited as part of the same riding.
Let's back up a bit. The commission is being asked to re-draw federal electoral boundaries to accommodate six new B.C. ridings as part of a Canada-wide population shift resulting from the 2011 census. Re-drawing electoral boundaries is often a difficult task made tougher by the need to at least make a stab at giving each riding more or less equal population. Sometimes it's going to lead to wonky situations - forcing Pemberton-area residents to drive three hours through several ridings just to visit their elected federal representative, for example. We get it.
Drawing a line between Whistler and Squamish, though, makes no sense at all, especially when you consider that we're linked to our neighbours to the north not only by a key transportation corridor but also by a common regional district, health region, regional hospital district and school district.
So what possible motivation could there be for making such a ridiculous proposal? Could it, for example, work to the benefit of one party over another? This writer certainly hopes that sort of gerrymandering isn't at play here.
- David Burke
That's what I will be writing mine about! The commission proposed that Pemberton and Area C should become part of the Sea to Sky riding, while Powell River should join Vancouver Island North. That was sent to the House of Commons for comment.
MPs Weston, Strahl and two others jointly submitted a proposal that would see Powell River remain in its current place, while Whistler and Pemberton would join the newly-formed Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon riding that stretches down to Chilliwack and as far north as 100 Mile House, I believe. Under the MPs proposal, 'Sea to Sky' would no longer be part of Squamish's riding name.
Those comments have been forwarded to the commission, which ultimately has the final say in setting the boundaries. As I recall, the reason why the commission has the final say is to avoid MPs having much influence on the composition of their riding. (Nancy suggested to Brandon, off the record, that splitting Whistler off its current riding would be advantageous to the Conservative Party).
So, I don't expect that this is going to take. The commission chair is unavailable for comment until Thursday. But Nancy, Jordan and Susie are all pretty unhappy that their respective MPs have gone completely against what they were asking for, and they've backtracked somewhat on what they've been saying all along.
