PEI federal riding boundary proposal

Summary#

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Prince Edward Island has published a proposal to tweak the boundary lines between two federal ridings so the number of people in each riding is more even after the 2021 census. The change would keep Prince Edward Island’s four (4) seats and move a handful of communities from Egmont into Cardigan. Public hearings are scheduled for June 7, 8 and 9, 2022.

What it does#

• Explains the commission’s job under the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act to keep each riding near the provincial electoral quota of 38,583 people. The province population used is 154,331 (2021 census).
• Proposes small boundary shifts so Egmont gives up a few communities on its east side and Cardigan takes them in. Specifically:
  • Move the Egmont boundary east to include Lower Bedeque, North Bedeque, Central Bedeque and Bedeque in Cardigan.
  • Move the Cardigan boundary west to include Grand Tracadie and Corran Ban.
• Shows the projected 2021 populations after the change:
  • Cardigan — 39,236 (variation 1.69% from the quota)
  • Charlottetown — 38,809 (variation 0.59%)
  • Egmont — 37,751 (variation -2.16%)
  • Malpeque — 38,535 (variation -0.12%)
• Announces public sittings to hear views:
  • June 7, 2022, Summerside (Loyalist Country Inn & Conference Centre), 7 p.m.
  • June 8, 2022, Stanhope (Stanhope Place), 7 p.m.
  • June 9, 2022, virtual hearing, 7 p.m.
• Sets a deadline for written notice to speak at a hearing: submissions must be received by May 25, 2022 (the notice was published May 7, 2022).
• Notes the document is a proposal. The commission will accept public input and consider objections from MPs, but the commission makes the final boundary decisions.

Who's affected#

• People who live in the named communities likely to move between ridings: Lower Bedeque, North Bedeque, Central Bedeque, Bedeque, Grand Tracadie, Corran Ban.
• Voters in the ridings of Egmont, Cardigan, Malpeque and Charlottetown (some residents may end up voting in a different riding in future federal elections).
• Local politicians, candidates and political parties, since even small changes can alter the makeup of a riding.
• Election administrators who will implement any final boundary changes.
• It is unclear from the notice if any other communities would be affected beyond the ones named.

Why it matters#

• Which riding you live in determines which Member of Parliament represents you. Even small boundary moves can change who votes together on local issues.
• The change aims to make each MP represent roughly the same number of people. That helps keep voting power balanced across the province.
• Public hearings give residents a chance to say if they agree or think the proposed lines split communities of interest.
• This is a proposal, not law. Final boundaries depend on the commission’s report after it hears public input.