B.C. federal electoral map proposal

Summary#

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of British Columbia has published a proposal to redraw British Columbia’s federal electoral map after the 2021 census. The plan would increase seats in the province from 42 to 43 (adding a new riding, Vernon—Lake Country) and makes many boundary and name changes; public hearings were set for June 2022 and September 2022 (with a virtual hearing on September 28, 2022).

What it does#

• Adds one federal seat in British Columbia, bringing the total to 43. The change follows the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and the 2021 census.
• Sets the province’s rough electoral quota at about 116,300 people per district (the population used to measure balance).
• Creates a new riding called Vernon—Lake Country, built from parts of North Okanagan—Shuswap and Kelowna—Lake Country.
• Proposes many other boundary adjustments and a number of name changes, including:
  • Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo → Kamloops—Thompson—Lytton
  • Kelowna—Lake Country → Kelowna
  • Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon → Mission—Maple Ridge
  • Reconfigured ridings in the Lower Mainland (including proposed New Westminster—Bridgeview and Pitt Meadows—Fort Langley) and a new Coquihalla district in the Interior.
• Leaves the very large northern riding (Skeena—Bulkley Valley) largely unchanged.
• Explains regional reasons for moves (uneven population growth, geography and transportation corridors).
• Invites public input through in-person and one virtual hearing. People who want to speak were asked to notify the commission in writing one week prior to the hearing they plan to attend. Written submissions were also accepted.

Who's affected#

• Voters in British Columbia — the riding you live in could change, which affects who represents you in the House of Commons.
• Current and prospective MPs and local candidates — boundaries affect which voters are in each contest.
• Local communities and municipalities where lines are moved (for example, Vernon, Kelowna, Nanaimo, parts of the Fraser Valley and the Southern Interior).
• Indigenous communities — the commission said it tried to keep each community inside a single riding where possible.
• Political parties and campaign teams — changes affect where they campaign and how they plan targets.

Why it matters#

• Which riding you live in determines which MP represents you. Boundary changes can move neighbours into different ridings or split communities differently than before.
• Adding a seat responds to population growth and aims to reduce unfair differences in the number of people per riding (over- and under-representation).
• Local politics, campaign strategy and the chances in close races can shift when maps change.
• The proposal is not final. Public hearings and submissions are part of the process, so residents can review the detailed maps and comment before any final decisions are made.