The B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission is proposing some significant changes in and around the City of Kamloops.
It is proposing a new Kamloops-Centre riding with a population of 60,681 that would encompass the city’s “urban core” as well as surrounding neighbourhoods of Aberdeen, Dufferin, the Thompson Rivers University precinct, North Kamloops, and Brocklehurst.
Meanwhile, with a population of 56,642, the new Kamloops-North Shuswap riding will comprise the “suburban” parts of Kamloops – Westsyde, Rayleigh, Dallas, Juniper Ridge, and Valleyview, along with communities around the city – Chase, Pritchard, and Sun Peaks.
It would also include some of the surrounding rural areas in the Shuswap, as well parts of the North and South Thompson valleys.
“We propose…that the rural areas east and west of the urban centre fall within the Fraser-Nicola and Kamloops-North Shuswap ridings,” the Boundaries commission said, in its preliminary report.
“That way, the neighbourhoods around the downtown core remain connected and the populations between adjacent electoral districts are better balanced, accommodating projected population growth.”
In all, the Boundary Commission is proposing six new B.C. ridings – one each in Burnaby, Surrey, Langley, and Vancouver, one in the Langford area on Vancouver Island, and one near Kelowna – taking the total to 93.
There are no changes to the names or boundaries of 16 existing electoral districts, with Commissioners proposing changes to the boundaries of the other 71 ridings to reflect the six new ridings.
Each of the ridings will have an electoral quotient is 53,773 people, and a usual deviation range between 40,330 and 67,216 people.
The new Kelowna riding is meant to address a city that is growing at nearly twice the provincial average.
“Kamloops is also growing quickly. We reflect its urbanization by adjusting existing boundaries to divide the city centre and adjacent neighbourhoods from more sparsely populated neighbourhoods and rural areas,” the report added.
“We propose moving some of the rural communities north and west of Kamloops into the electoral districts of Fraser Nicola and Cariboo-North Thompson. This brings the populations of these ridings within the usual deviation range while accommodating projected population growth in Kamloops.”
The boundaries of Fraser-Nicola would be increased slightly to include Kent and Harrison Hot Springs, giving it a population of 44,338.
The existing Shuswap riding will be renamed Salmon-Arm Shuswap, which would be decreased in size while keeping the communities of Enderby, Armstrong, Salmon Arm and Sicamous together, for a total population of 58,919 people.
North of Kamloops, the communities of Barriere and Clearwater, currently in Kamloops-North Thompson, would be part of the renamed Cariboo-North Thompson riding, joining with the communities of Williams Lake, Lac la Hache, 100 Mile House, and Anahim Lake for a total population of 41,267 people.
The Boundaries Commission will now hold a series of final public meetings, with one scheduled in Kamloops on Oct. 18. There will also be virtual public hearings held on Oct. 21 and Nov. 8.
You can find the entire preliminary report here.
