New Provincial Riding Boundaries

The Electoral Boundary Commission has just released their preliminary report on boundary changes. In my opinion the new boundaries do not serve the interests of Thetis or Penelakut Islands. 

Growing population means that Vancouver Island is going to receive an additional riding, going from 14 ridings to 15. A new riding in Langford means all up island riding will shift north. Cowichan Valley moves from Herd Road to include all of Chemainus. Nanaimo-North Cowichan becomes Nanaimo-Ladysmith and includes more areas of Nanaimo city.. 

Thetis and Penelakut are placed in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Riding. This makes little sense. All of our key big island connections are with Chemainus and Cowichan. A Nanaimo-Ladysmith MLA will be representing a region that has little connection to our Islands. We want to ask our MLA to speak up for us on issues ranging such as health services, waste removal, and zoning. This becomes harder when the regional bodies are not based in their electoral district. It is hard enough for us to get the attention of senior levels of government, we don't need additional hurdles.

However, nothing is final, this is only a preliminary report. Please take the time to check out the website (bcebc.ca) and consider making a submission. The commission takes public feedback very seriously and will make changes if enough people speak out. Your opinion will be heard.

Thanks

David Reay