As first reported by Radio NL, Kamloops MLAs Peter Milobar and Todd Stone will both run for re-election, though they say they will switch ridings.

Milobar, the current Kamloops-North Thompson MLA, will run in the newly created Kamloops-Centre riding, which would include the “urban core” of Kamloops as well as the neighbourhoods of Aberdeen, Dufferin, the Thompson Rivers University precinct, North Kamloops, and Brocklehurst.

Stone, the current Kamloops-South Thompson MLA, will run in the redrawn Kamloops-North Thompson riding, which includes the Kamloops neighbourhoods of Valleyview, Barnhartvale, Dallas, Batchelor Heights, Westsyde, and Rayleigh.

It also includes North Thompson communities of Barriere, Clearwater, and Sun Peaks along with the communities of Pritchard, Chase, Monte Lake, and Westwold, east of Kamloops.

“To better reflect the geography of the district, we now believe that this redrawn riding should have been named ‘Kamloops-Thompson Valleys,’ as more people are living along the South Thompson River valley than the North Thompson River valley,” Stone and Milobar said, in a statement. 

“We will be advocating for this name change when the relevant legislation – which implements these boundary changes – is presented to the B.C. Legislature for debate and voting in the coming weeks.”

Stone lives in his riding and maintains and office on Victoria Street in downtown Kamloops. Milobar does not live in his riding though he maintains an office on Tranquille Road.

Should the boundary changes go ahead as proposed both MLAs will call the redrawn Kamloops-North Thompson riding home.

In their statement, they say they welcome the release of the final report from the B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission.

“We are pleased that the Commission listened to public input and added one net new electoral district, rather than reducing the number of ridings in B.C.’s Interior and North,” they added.

“We also acknowledge that these changes have a significant impact on many constituencies, including those in Kamloops and the surrounding area, as the Commission worked to balance population levels and communities of interest in its redrawing of the boundaries.”

The next provincial election in B.C. is scheduled to be held on or before October 19, 2024.

“While we regret that we won’t be directly representing all neighbourhoods and communities that we were originally elected to due to these boundary changes, as good MLA partners and friends, we will continue to advocate for the services, investments, and priorities that our constituents in our communities need and deserve,” the pair added.