Proposed New Federal Ridings in New Brunswick

Summary#

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of New Brunswick has published a proposal to redraw the province’s federal electoral map after the 2021 Census. The plan adjusts the borders and names of several ridings so that each of the 10 seats is closer to the provincial quota of 77,561 people; public hearings were scheduled and written submissions were invited (deadline August 23, 2022).

What it does#

• Uses the 2021 Census provincial population (775,610) and an electoral quota of 77,561 to rework all federal district boundaries in New Brunswick.
• Proposes new names for five ridings and boundary changes for all 10 districts. Notable name changes include:
  • Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe → Moncton—Dieppe
  • Fredericton → Fredericton—Oromocto
  • Fundy Royal → Fundy Royal—Riverview
  • New Brunswick Southwest → Saint John—St. Croix
  • Saint John—Rothesay → Saint John—Kennebecasis
• Moves specific communities between ridings to improve voter parity and respect local ties. Examples:
  • Small parts of the Regional Municipality of Tracadie (including Rivière‑du‑Portage, Haut‑Rivière‑du‑Portage and Brantville) are moved into Acadie—Bathurst.
  • The remainder of the Town of Riverview is moved into Fundy Royal—Riverview.
  • Parts of Fredericton’s new municipal limit are grouped into Fredericton—Oromocto so the city sits mostly in a single riding.
  • Rural parishes (e.g., Sheffield, Maugerville, Canning) are added to Miramichi—Grand Lake to keep that large riding within allowable deviation.
  • Several small southern and western communities (e.g., Harvey, McAdam, Hanwell) are added into Tobique—Mactaquac.
• Aims to keep every riding within the Act’s usual tolerance of ±25% of the quota. The Commission says the proposal brings previously out‑of‑range districts back within that limit.
• Schedules public hearings across the province from September 7, 2022 to September 29, 2022 (including a virtual hearing on September 29, 2022) and sets a deadline of August 23, 2022 for written notice to appear at hearings.

Who's affected#

• Residents of New Brunswick whose town, parish, or city ward is moved into a different federal riding. Those voters could see a different set of candidates in future federal elections.
• Local governments and communities that requested changes (for example, City of Fredericton, Town of Riverview, City of Moncton).
• Members of Parliament and political parties, because campaigning and constituency work depend on riding boundaries.
• Francophone and Acadian communities: the Commission explicitly considered language communities when proposing changes.
• First Nations and reserve communities listed in the descriptions (these are included in the affected boundaries).

If it’s unclear whether your address moves, check the maps and legal descriptions the Commission published or attend a hearing.

Why it matters#

• Electoral boundaries determine which MP represents you. A change can mean different local priorities, outreach, and service lines from Parliamentarians.
• The proposal balances “voter parity” (similar population sizes) with practical factors like geography, communities of interest, and language. That affects whether small or spread‑out communities get their own voice or are grouped with larger centres.
• Rural ridings that are very large in land area may keep lower populations so MPs can reasonably represent scattered communities. Urban ridings are allowed higher populations because they are easier to serve.
• This is a proposal, not final. Public input at the hearings and written submissions can influence the final map the Commission sends to the House of Commons.