Reminder: BC Electoral Boundaries Commission to make stop in Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson

The BC Electoral Boundaries Commission is holding public meetings in Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson to gain feedback from Northeast B.C. residents.

The commission is currently seeking feedback from residents while they begin their review and will be stopping in Dawson Creek on May 9th at 7:30 P.M. and on May 10th at 8:30 A.M. at the George Dawson Inn.

On the same day, a meeting will be taking place in Fort Nelson at 12:30 P.M. at the Woodlands Inn & Suites.

A virtual meeting will be held on May 13th for all regions, and a public survey is available until May 31st.

The commission also has an interactive mapping application that can be utilized to propose changes to an electoral district boundary. According to the application, “all proposals are taken into consideration by the commissioners before the preliminary report in 2022.”

Through amendments to the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act passed last year, the commission can create six new electoral districts, resulting in a potential decrease in the number of northern seats in the Legislative Assembly.

The newly formed commission was appointed last October to begin a review of the electoral boundaries that is conducted every two general elections. They will evaluate the boundaries and the number of constituents in each riding, making boundary changes to try and evenly distribute residents among MLAs.

MLAs in Northeast B.C. are worried this may lead to northern seats being redistributed to the Lower Mainland, making it harder for MLAs to connect with their constituents.

MLA Dan Davies has also expressed his frustration that the commission decided not to hold public meetings in the largest community in Northeast B.C. Due to demand, the commission added a second meeting in Dawson Creek rather than having one in Fort St. John.