Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long plans to oppose the proposed changes in riding, which is one of the most dramatic of the changes recommended for New Brunswick by the Federal Border Commission.
“I’m not happy about it, I don’t like it and I’m going to fight,” Long said on Friday about a plan to split the city of St. John into two separate constituencies.
According to a report released on Thursday on electoral reform in the province, everything east of the St. John River should join the Kennebekasis Valley, while everything west of it should join Charlotte County in a monster riding that spans 8,600 square feet. kilometers in parts of Queens and Kings counties.
“You know, I’m sitting in my Market Square office, looking out the window, looking at the harbor, looking at the other side of West St. John’s. To think that this would be part of the ride that goes down to St. Stephen – it’s just not acceptable. It will hurt St. John in the long run, “Long said.
He said St. John should have an MP focused on the needs of the city. Instead, he said, Westerners will become a minority, where their position will be diluted in expansive riding, made up largely of rural communities.
“They are not two MPs. Let’s be very clear on this. It is not that St. John has two MPs. Of course. There are two rides with the name of St. John in them,” Long said.
The Federal Commission for Electoral Borders for New Brunswick is proposing that the province keep 10 rides. It also proposes changes, to varying degrees, to all 10, including new names for some. (Federal Commission for Electoral Borders for New Brunswick)
The recommendation to split St. John was among several made in a report published by the Federal Electoral Boundary Commission for New Brunswick.
According to the report, the province will retain 10 federal seats, but all will look slightly different in the next federal election if the proposals are accepted.
Some of the changes proposed by the Federal Boundary Electoral Commission for New Brunswick, including in the Moncton area, are language-based.
In the north-west, for example, the commission has proposed relocating several Francophone communities from the Miramichi-Grand Lake constituency to Acadie-Bathhurst.
The three-member panel includes Lucy A. Lavigne, chairman of the commission and a judge on the New Brunswick Court of Appeal, Conde Grondin, a retired professor of political science, and Thomas Riordon, a retired judge on the Queen’s Court of New Brunswick.
Across the country, most provinces will retain the same number of seats under the proposed changes, although Quebec will lose one seat and Ontario will win one. The biggest change is proposed in Alberta, where there may be three additional seats.
The report proposes a four-seat increase in parliament in the next federal election, bringing the total to 342.
Full details of the proposed changes in New Brunswick can be found online, but here are some highlights:
Acadie-Bathurst
The commission said it did not initially believe changes were needed in Acadie-Bathurst, while Keith Chiason, MLA for Tracadie-Sheila, did not address the issue. It identifies the communities of Rivière-du-Portage, Haut-Rivière-du-Portage and Brantville.
Chiasson said that the population of these communities is predominantly Francophone and Akkadian and that their language profile and sense of belonging are in line with the Acadia Peninsula and the Acadie-Bathurst constituency, where they go for services and daily needs such as schools, health services, shops, businesses, financial and legal services, as well as provincial and federal government offices. “
Beauséjour
The Commission proposes to move a small part of the city of Moncton from Beaujour to the proposed ride to Moncton-Dieppe. The change, however, will leave Beaujolais with a population of 88,490, putting it 14 percent above the province’s electoral quota.
The commission said it was not interested in the numbers because Beausjour would be “geographically the smallest constituency in rural areas”.
Fredericton (suggested name: Fredericton-Oromocto)
The new neighborhood will consist mainly of the city of Fredericton and surrounding areas, plus the city of Oromokto. What is left of Fredericton’s old ride will be distributed to other riders, including Burton Parish, which goes to St. John’s. Croix.
The new neighborhood will be smaller in area due to population growth in the capital region.
Fundy Royal (suggested name: Fundy Royal — Riverview)
The Commission is proposing that Riverview be added to the Fundy Royal constituency. According to the report, it makes sense because of the existing “community of interest as well as historical links between the city of Riverview and driving the Fundy Royal”.
“In fact, the Commission received comments from a resident of Riverview, expressing disappointment that Riverview was divided between two rides and commented that many did not seem to know where the dividing line was,” the report said.
The city of Quispamsis will be moved from Fundy Royal in the proposed ride to Saint John-Kennebecasis.
Madavaska-Restigush
As the region’s population is 22 percent below the province’s quota, it is proposed that several communities be relocated, including the city of Grand Falls, the parishes of Grand Falls and Drummond, as well as the village of Drummond and the rural community of Saint-Andre. in the ride of Tobic-Maktaquak.
The Commission noted that the districts have historical links as well as common interests. From 1966 to 1996, they were on the same ride as the communities of Madawa County, when it was known as Madawaska-Victoria.
“In this region, too, the linguistic and cultural characteristics of the communities have weighed heavily,” the commission said.
Miramichi-Grand Lake
The Commission proposes that Miramichi-Grand Lake constituency include the current territory plus the area south of Sheffield Parish and parts of Maugerville and Canning Parishes, which are now part of Fredericton Constituency. The proposal will also include the relocation of Waterborough Parish from Fundy Royal.
Part of the Tracadie regional municipality will be moved from Miramichi-Grand Lake to Acadie-Bathhurst.
The report suggests separating Riverview from the rest of Moncton and joining Fundy Royal. (Federal Commission for Electoral Borders for New Brunswick)
Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe (suggested name: Moncton-Dieppe)
The Commission is proposing that the city of Riverview be removed from the area and become part of the proposed Fundy Royal-Riverview area.
Officials acknowledged the ties that unite the three municipalities of Greater Moncton, but due to population growth (nearly 12,000 people in 10 years) it was no longer possible to keep them together, as it put the area 31 percent above the province’s electoral quota
The commission said it was considering moving parts of Dieppe and Riverview to other rides, but that would dilute “Francophone’s critical mass and the loss of a Francophone community (Dieppe) would jeopardize the effective representation of the Francophone minority in the proposed new ride, as it would weaken political influence of this minority and will reduce its ability to express its concerns effectively. “
South West New Brunswick (suggested name: Saint John-St. Croix)
The Commission is proposing to add that part of the current St John Rothes constituency west of the St John River and the port of St John, plus Burton Parish, which is in the current Fredericton constituency.
The Commission is proposing the removal of the villages of Harvey and Macadam, the parishes of Dumfries, Kingsley, Macadam, Manners Sutton and Prince William, the Hanwell Rural Community and the Indian Reserve of Kingsley-6 and relocating them to the proposed Tobic-Maktaquak constituency.
“The current ride covers approximately 11,800 square kilometers and includes components living on three islands, a situation that presents unique challenges for travel and representation. With the proposed new limits, the size of the ride will be reduced to approximately 8,600 square kilometers, making it more manageable. “
The Commission noted that the cities of Fredericton and Moncton demanded that their cities be reunited in one ride.
“In stark contrast, we are now proposing that the city of St. John be divided, using the St. John River and the port of St. John as a natural topographic division, and transferring the part west of this dividing line to the proposed St. John-St. Croa. “
The Border Commission is proposing to split St. John into two rides, with everything east of the St. John River joining the Kenebekasis Valley. (Federal Commission for Electoral Borders for New Brunswick)
Saint John-Rothesay (Suggested name: Saint John-Kennebecasis)
The proposed new ride will include the current territory plus the city of Kuspamsis, which is now part of the Fundy Royal ride. The proposed ride will remove the part west of the St. John River and the port of St. John, moving this area to St. John St. Croix.
“The Commission is of the opinion that the city of Kispamsis has a close community of interest with the more urban area of St. John’s and Rothesay,” the report said.
“In the past, some have called for the city of Rothesay and the city of Kispamsis, commonly called the Kenebekasis Valley, to remain in the same constituency, given the apparent shared economic community of interests and geographical proximity.
Tobic-Maktaquak
Commission proposes Tobik-Maktakuak constituency to expand its south-western …
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