‘Sample’ riding maps created
Commission hoping to generate public discussion with two proposed electoral maps
Two draft maps have been created with proposed changes to P.E.I.’s electoral districts – maps the electoral boundaries commission chairman says are samples only meant to generate public discussion.
The maps were prepared for a round of public meetings just getting underway across the province.
They delineate two sets of proposed changes to the boundaries of P.E.I.’s current 27 districts to create a better equality of population in each riding. Commission chairman Gerard Mitchell says the maps were created at the suggestion of John McQuaid, who chaired the last electoral boundaries commission in 2004. “They didn’t have any map when they went out to the public meetings, and it was a little difficult, he found, to engage the public in discussion about changes if you didn’t have something,” Mitchell said. “And we didn’t want to go with just one (map) because then people would say ‘You guys have got your minds made up,’ so we said we’ll go with a couple. Because our minds are definitely not made up.” The five-member electoral boundaries commission is currently in the process of reviewing the makeup of P.E.I.’s 27 ridings, as required by law after three provincial elections.
Several of P.E.I’s ridings have become more than 25 per cent above or below the population average for 27 districts, which is forbidden by the Electoral Boundaries Act.
This means changes must be made to the province’s current voting districts.
One of the new sample maps shows proposed changes that would look strictly at getting all 27 districts to around 3,700 voters. The second shows some alternative changes that take into account population and existing neighbourhoods within the districts.
Mitchell stressed these maps may not necessarily be the final product and that public meetings will include a mapper who can help visualize changes the public may bring forward.
“We’re certainly not married to either one of those maps. And the last map, when we get there, could look quite different from either one of these.”
But Georgetown-St. Peters MLA Steven Myers says he is concerned by some of the changes he sees in the sample maps, notably in rural districts like his own.
“If you look at the proposals, it means some really long, jagged districts have come out of it. And in the proposals they may not necessarily have taken communities of interest into account.”
That’s why Myers hopes as many people as possible will attend the upcoming public meetings on electoral boundaries. But he is concerned, with so many public meetings being held on school changes, electoral boundaries may get overlooked.
“It’s important that Islanders get out and tell (the commission) what boundaries are good, what boundaries are bad and what communities belong together in electoral districts,” Myers said.
“I’d be scared the rural voice won’t be heard once again, and when the rural voice isn’t heard usually we get the shaft and I’d be scared the government would be on the hook for another mess.”
The sample maps have been posted online at https://www. electoralboundaries.pe.ca where a full list of public meetings can also be found.
The commission’s next public meeting is today at Souris Regional School, beginning at 6:30 p.m.