Photo: Contributed
Vernon Lake Country, in purple, is proposed to be the newest federal election ride of British Columbia in 2024.
The proposed redistribution of British Columbia’s federal electoral boundaries will add a ride to Thompson-Okanagan and the Penticton and Kamloops will be divided between the districts.
Canada’s constitution requires that electoral boundaries be reconfigured every decade. Last year’s census showed that Kelowna was the fastest growing big city in Canada, so an independent commission decided that Central Okanagan should host the new BC ride.
The proposed new ride, called Vernon Lake Country, will include everything in Kelowna north and west from Highway 97 to the northern end of Swan Lake in Vernon.
The Kelowna ride will cover the rest of Kelowna, Joe Rich and parts of Lake Country and Oyama east of Highway 97. The ride will not include Big White Ski Resort, despite requests from the resort owner.
Big White will remain in control of South Okanagan-West Kootenay, the only non-conservative seat in BC Interior held by Richard Cannings of the NDP. This seat will undergo significant changes along its westernmost borders.
It is proposed that the Penticton be divided into two areas to be shared between the South Okanagan-West Kutenai ride and the ride currently held by Dan Albas, proposed to be renamed Kokihala.
Even so, the great ride of Albas will become even geographically greater, stretching from the Upper Similcamin Valley to Hope and the Lower Fraser Canyon all the way to West Kelowna and up the western side of Lake Okanagan. Logan Lake will be removed from the ride.
It is also proposed that new electoral boundaries separate Kamloops, using the Trans-Canadian Highway and the South Thompson River.
Driving North Okanagan Shushuap would add parts of Kamloops, such as Juniper Ridge and Valleyview. The newly renamed Kamloops-Thompson-Lytton ride will now end at about 70 Mile House and will add Logan Lake and Upper Fraser Canyon.
The new maps were made by a judge of the Court of Appeal of British Columbia and two scientists.
“In formulating this proposal for British Colombians, the commission sought to reduce disparities between constituencies within regions affected by historical model and community of interest and identity factors, and in the interests of voter justice and effective representation. The result is a significant reduction in over-representation and under-representation, “the commission said in a statement accompanying the cards.
The proposed limits are just that at the moment – proposed.
Public hearings on the new ride are expected in the autumn, and lawmakers will have the opportunity to object in early 2023.
The new borders will not be officially established until April 2024 at the earliest.
An interactive map of the proposed new borders is here.
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