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Riding commission leaves Area G alone

Federal electoral boundaries adjusted back to Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding

Many citizens will be breathing easier after a key panel report has once again redrawn federal riding boundaries and left 100 Mile House, 108 Mile Ranch and Lac la Hache in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo (KTC) federal riding.

The Federal Commission on Electoral Boundaries for British Columbia heard an outcry from representatives of these communities after it had produced a provisional map that placed them in the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding last summer.

Local complainants included the Cariboo Regional District, represented at two Interior commission hearings by CRD board chair and 108 Mile and Lac la Hache Director Al Richmond, and the District of 100 Mile House, represented at a Kamloops hearing by Councillor Spence Henderson.

Richmond says it's “great news” the commission has left his regional constituents in the KTC federal riding.

I'm pleased that obviously presentations we made both in Kamloops and Prince George were worth our time and our effort to bring that matter forward to them, and I'm really pleased that the commission listened.”

Richmond notes he got the impression the panel was listening at the hearings, but couldn't be certain until the boundaries were redrawn.

100 Mile Mayor Mitch Campsall is “very pleased” at the news, and he says the readjusted boundary lines confirm the right things were presented to the commission.

This all came about because everybody worked together ... which really shows when everybody sticks together things do happen, and I think they happen for the right reasons.

[KTC MP] Cathy McLeod represents us; Cathy McLeod understands us. We don't fit in with Chilliwack no matter how you wrap it.”

Campsall adds he expects people across the Cariboo will also be happy about this result.

Meanwhile, the MPs will be allowed to comment over the next few weeks on the commission's recommendations, and express any objections they may have before that panel makes its final decision, which is expected by this summer.