Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod says the return of the South Cariboo's Area G to her riding boundary map is good news.
“When the original maps came out, for many of us that understand the patterns of referral, the inclusion with Chilliwack didn't make a lot of sense.”
While the population numbers fit within the commission's mandate, she says the regular flow and business transactions between Kamloops and the South Cariboo isn't conducive to having its parliamentary representation in the Lower Mainland.
Last summer, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for British Columbia had released its proposal with redrawn boundaries to put the communities of 100 Mile House, 108 Mile Ranch and Lac la Hache into the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding.
It then asked for public input, and heard numerous objections to the plan through presentations made by local governments at hearings and from the general public and organizations in written submissions.
“I think, very articulately, the people from the Cariboo wrote letters and appeared before the commission [which] responded to their concerns.
“So, I guess the process worked the way it should work in terms of there was a preliminary suggestion, they received input and they made changes on the reasons [submitted].”
While Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett is a provincial representative, she was a South Cariboo voice to the committee on behalf of her constituents, and says its recent decision is “great news.”
“I am very pleased the commission listened to the presentations made by myself, [Councillor] Spence Henderson for the District of 100 Mile House and [chair] Al Richmond for the [Cariboo Regional District].
“My personal feeling was that once they understood the geography of the riding and the fact the area, which they had on the table to remove from the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding, uses Kamloops as its regional centre – that common sense should prevail. The commission put us back where we belong, and I thank them.”
While the commission's report has once again redrawn federal riding boundaries to leave Area G in McLeod's riding, it did remove the Valemount area to place it the Prince George–Peace River electoral district.
However, as part of the same regional district, McLeod says it wasn't the same “glaring” issue as moving Area G into Chilliwack.
“To some degree, they have an affiliation with the whole Robson Valley-McBride [area].”
It saves her about an hour's travel one-way from her new furthest-north riding point of Blue River, but she downplays the importance of that.
“It's a beautiful community. It was a nice part of the riding, which I always enjoy, but to some degree, it does make some sense.”
She adds the commission was charged with a “tough job” to get each of B.C.'s ridings close to 104,000 population.