Image Credit: Electoral Boundaries Commission

By James Peters

Electoral Boundaries

Kamloops mayor expresses dismay at proposed federal electoral boundary changes

May 10, 2022 | 3:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — The mayor of Kamloops is none too pleased with the federal government’s proposed redrawing of electoral boundaries as it relates to the City of Kamloops.

The Electoral Boundaries Commission is asking for feedback on new electoral riding boundaries that would more evenly distribute the population.

The newly-redrawn map would see the southeast Kamloops neighbourhoods of Campbell Creek, Barnhartvale, Dallas, Juniper Ridge and Valleyview made part of the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding.

In Tuesday’s regular council meeting, Mayor Ken Christian says that may make the numbers line up better, but it doesn’t make practical sense.

“This notion of simply trying to get to the numbers without taking into account things like trading area, hospital district, school district, areas of employment and where people live — and the communities that are involved — I think goes a little too far,” said Christian.

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“Issues related to [employment insurance], issues related to passports, issues related to immigration and certainly issues related to the [Canada Revenue Agency] will have to be adjudicated by your friendly neighbourhood member of parliament office in either Salmon Arm or in Vernon.”

Documents describing the changes will be distributed to local homes shortly.

“My recommendation,” continued Christian, “would be that there either be one riding for Kamloops — and the size would be adequate — or, if they’re going to divide Kamloops, they divide Kamloops either north-south, as they’ve done with the provincial ridings, or east-west.”

Christian urged the public to learn about the proposed changes and make their feelings known. The commission will be in Kamloops on June 16 to hear from the public.