There is still a possibility Big White could change provincial electoral ridings.
Although a preliminary report by the B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission (BCEBC) released Oct. 3 still has the ski resort in the Boundary-Similkameen riding, chairperson B.C. Supreme Court Justice Nita Iyer said they will revisit the issue.
鈥淲e need to look at that, we will look at that,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hether or not we decide to change which riding Big White is in, in terms of our proposal we will give an explanation that addresses that concern. That鈥檚 our responsibility to go back to people who have taken the time to express their views to us.鈥�
The commission was in 91大黄鸭 Oct. 19 to receive public input on its preliminary report regarding proposed changes to electoral ridings in B.C. It has had several public submissions previously, asking that Big White be moved into a 91大黄鸭 riding. Caroline Miller with the 91大黄鸭 Chamber told the commission the organization would still like to see that change.
鈥淢ost of the property owners at Big White, we believe, are residents of the Central Okanagan rather than being residents farther east in the Similkameen,鈥� added Miller. 鈥淎dding Big White to the 91大黄鸭 ridings would much better align the development to the local economy鈥aving an MLA closer to the people that he or she represents would be a positive for those living in the Big White area.鈥�
91大黄鸭 councillor-elect Gord Lovegrove spoke to commission members about a proposed, new provincial riding (91大黄鸭 Centre) for the city.
He asked if they would consider pushing the northern section of the boundary from Scenic and Sexsmith roads farther north to align with John Hindle Drive and Glenmore Road.
鈥淚t becomes a physical marker for voters,鈥� said Lovegrove. 鈥淯BCO, did you want to include that, then connects to the UBCO downtown campus.鈥�
The BCEBC reviews electoral ridings after every second provincial election and is proposing six new ridings in its report. The change would bring the total number of seats in the legislature to 93. Justice Iyer noted the recommendation is a response to B.C.鈥檚 population growing by more than 300,000 people over the past five years.
The commission has until April 3, 2023, to present its final report to the B.C. Legislature, which will then decide whether to accept some or all of the recommendations.
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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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