Sixth avenue is proposed to serve as the dividing line for Kamloops (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

NEW RIDINGS

Proposed federal riding changes draw mixed reviews in Kamloops

Feb 9, 2023 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — The federal boundaries commission was in Kamloops during the summer, listening to residents thoughts on keeping the community together under one Member of Parliament. In the report published Wednesday the commission said that Kamloops was the toughest region in the Interior to reconfigure, but stated population forced their hand.

The most challenging area for reconfiguration in the Southern Interior is the City of Kamloops and its large trading and service area. The population in that circle significantly exceeds the province’s electoral quota, but falls short of the population that would support two electoral districts. The Commission concluded that this divergence from quota needs to be addressed and that the population of the City must be spread into two electoral districts, with each part joining an extended community of smaller populations.

Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo is still digesting the information that would see his riding changed dramatically.

“There are really a lot of changes at this point. I am going to look at this individually, we are going to look at this as a caucus and make some determinations. Obviously, we respect the work of the independent boundary commission. Any decisions to be made about this in the future, we will look those in the coming months,” said Caputo.

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The new dividing line in Kamloops falls along Sixth Avenue, with properties to the east in Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies riding, and those to the west within Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola.

“I can’t allay people’s concerns. I can only speak for myself. And that is wherever I am, if I’m elected, I will do my best to be an MP for all. In this case, I live in Kamloops but I’m still an MP for people in Savona, people in Forest Grove, people in Lac la Hache or Clearwater or Barriere,” said Caputo.

Residents of Kamloops we spoke to on Thursday (Feb. 9) were all of the same mind, calling the proposal silly. Joe Ribary lives out in the Juniper Ridge neighbourhood, which means his riding will stretch all the way to the Alberta border.

“[The MP] is probably going to be further east, and therefore maybe less interested in representing us. Maybe he has his priorities somewhere else,” said Ribary.

While many in the city may be frustrated with the proposed change, those living north of Kamloops are singing a different tune. Places like Barriere and Clearwater will remain with the western half of Kamloops.

“It’s good that the commission has looked at this again and lumped us in with Kamloops or most of Kamloops at this point. The previous sort of plan was to stick us over with the Cariboo which we do no business with. It also didn’t really respect our local First Nation partner, the Simpcw First Nation, whose territory we are on,” said Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell.

Federal MPs have until the end of April to submit their opinions to the commission before a final report will be drafted.

“On these types of topics that really do impact people, we need to listen. My door is always open if people do have concerns. I’m not sure where things will go from here. We need to speak as a caucus and I need to look at this a bit more deeply,” said Caputo.

by Michael Reeve

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Proposed federal riding changes draw mixed reviews in Kamloops

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