The proposed provincial electoral map would add Princeton to Boundary-Similkameen. (B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission)
A new map of the provincial riding of Boundary-Similkameen has not changed from a March 2015 proposal in the recently released final report of the B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission.
The new boundaries, which would be in effect for the next provincial election scheduled for May 9, 2017, expand the current electoral district to include Princeton and its surrounding area.
The final report was tabled in the B.C. Legislature on Sept. 24. Once the Legislative Assembly officially adopts the new boundaries, they will apply to the next two provincial general elections.
The B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission released its preliminary report in March, which redraws the provincial electoral boundaries to reflect population changes and the increase of seats in the legislature to 87 from 85.
Under provincial legislation passed in 2014, the number of seats in three remote regions of the province is protected, but the rest of the province may only vary by up to 25 per cent plus or minus from the provincial population average of 53,119.
Without the addition of the Princeton area, Boundary-Similkameen’s population would have been 28.8 per cent below the provincial average, and, therefore, not acceptable.
Under the new boundary, the riding’s population would be 42,340, which is 20.3 per cent below the provincial average.
The commission described Boundary-Similkameen as rural in nature and unlike the rest of Okanagan/Shuswap, it does not have a major urban centre.
Rather, it is made of many dispersed smaller communities. It is also not expected to see the same levels of growth as the rest of Okanagan/Shuswap.
The commission invited public submissions last spring on its preliminary report.
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