Commission tables final electoral ridings proposal

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This article was published 08/12/2022 (1212 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Controversial proposed changes to Westman’s two federal electoral districts have been withdrawn in light of feedback from residents and elected representatives.

On Tuesday, a new federal electoral map for the province was tabled in the House of Commons by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Manitoba.

The Canadian Constitution requires the review of federal electoral districts every 10 years, to ensure each riding contains a similar number of inhabitants.

The three commissioners for Manitoba, including Brandon University political scientist Kelly Saunders, were tasked with tweaking the boundaries of the province’s 14 existing ridings. No new constituencies will be added to Manitoba.

In June, the commission issued a draft proposal for new boundaries that would have seen significant changes to Dauphin–Swan River–Neepawa and some smaller tweaks to Brandon–Souris.

Under the draft, Dauphin–Swan River–Neepawa would’ve lost a large chunk of its northern territory to the massive but sparsely populated northern district of Churchill–Keewatinook Aski, with its northernmost extent changing from near the top of Lake Winnipegosis to the town of Swan River.

In exchange, Dauphin–Swan River–Neepawa would’ve slightly expanded further south, absorbing Virden and half of the Rural Municipality of Wallace–Woodworth from Brandon–Souris.

Brandon–Souris would’ve then absorbed an area to its east that used to be a part of Portage–Lisgar.

However, in the final tabled proposal, Dauphin–Swan River–Neepawa will maintain most of its existing borders except for an area southeast of Carberry and southwest of Portage la Prairie, which will be absorbed from both Portage–Lisgar and Brandon–Souris.

The commission is also proposing to change the name of Dauphin–Swan River–Neepawa to Riding Mountain. According to the commission’s report, the name change was a result of two written submissions: one by a resident and the other by the riding’s current representative, MP Dan Mazier.

“The MP submitted that Riding Mountain National Park is unique to Canada, situated precisely in the centre of the riding and surrounded entirely by people and communities,” the report states.

“He stated that constituents from the entire riding access the park from different locations and for different reasons. He submitted that the name Riding Mountain would better represent the hundreds of communities throughout the electoral district.”

The proposed name and boundary changes are subject to approval by Parliament.

Mazier’s office declined a request for comment, citing a need to first study the proposed changes before commenting.

In the final proposal, Brandon–Souris maintains Virden and the entirety of Wallace–Woodworth, but loses some territory along its eastern edge to Dauphin–Swan River–Neepawa and Portage–Lisgar.

Speaking at a consultation session held by the commission in September, Brandon–Souris MP Larry Maguire said both of those communities wanted to remain in the riding.

“Taking Virden and the surrounding area out of the same riding as the towns of Pipestone, Reston, Oak Lake, Cromer and Sinclair will result in our natural economic trading areas being separated. It would split up the multiple oil service businesses for most of the oil wells and service sites in the south,” Maguire said at the session.

“This would leave a significant amount of people working and living in separate federal constituencies. This would result in multiple students and families living in one federal constituency and attending school in another, and this would separate Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation from the town of Virden, which have their own historical bonds and economic interests.”

The Sun was unable to reach Maguire for comment on Wednesday.

Wallace–Woodworth Reeve Clayton Canart echoed Maguire’s sentiments at the September session. The Sun was unable to reach Canart for comment on Wednesday, but the reeve told the commissioners in September his community has agricultural, economic and historic ties to Brandon–Souris and would prefer that Wallace–Woodworth remain in the riding.

In Virden, Mayor Tina Williams said she was glad the commission reconsidered its initial plan.

“We did have a concern at the council of Virden of moving to such a new, big area,” she said. “We are very pleased to be remaining where we are … Dauphin is quite a way from us, and we don’t have day-to-day connection with Dauphin. We have more day-to-day connections with Brandon.”

If the proposed changes are approved, Brandon–Souris will have an estimated population of 93,930, two per cent lower than the provincial average for ridings. Dauphin–Swan River–Neepawa would have an estimated population of 90,962, five per cent lower than the provincial average.

From now until March, members of Parliament can object to the proposed changes, which will be considered by the commission.

The representation order approving the changes will appear in Parliament next September.

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