There is still a possibility Big White could change provincial electoral ridings.
Although a preliminary report by the B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission (BCEBC) released Oct. 3 still has the ski resort in the Boundary-Similkameen riding, chairperson B.C. Supreme Court Justice Nita Iyer said they will revisit the issue.
sa国际传媒淲e need to look at that, we will look at that,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淲hether or not we decide to change which riding Big White is in, in terms of our proposal we will give an explanation that addresses that concern. Thatsa国际传媒檚 our responsibility to go back to people who have taken the time to express their views to us.sa国际传媒�
The commission was in Kelowna Oct. 19 to receive public input on its preliminary report regarding proposed changes to electoral ridings in B.C. It has had several public submissions previously, asking that Big White be moved into a Kelowna riding. Caroline Miller with the Kelowna Chamber told the commission the organization would still like to see that change.
sa国际传媒淢ost of the property owners at Big White, we believe, are residents of the Central Okanagan rather than being residents farther east in the Similkameen,sa国际传媒� added Miller. sa国际传媒淎dding Big White to the Kelowna ridings would much better align the development to the local economysa国际传媒aving an MLA closer to the people that he or she represents would be a positive for those living in the Big White area.sa国际传媒�
Kelowna councillor-elect Gord Lovegrove spoke to commission members about a proposed, new provincial riding (Kelowna Centre) for the city.
He asked if they would consider pushing the northern section of the boundary from Scenic and Sexsmith roads farther north to align with John Hindle Drive and Glenmore Road.
sa国际传媒淚t becomes a physical marker for voters,sa国际传媒� said Lovegrove. sa国际传媒淯BCO, did you want to include that, then connects to the UBCO downtown campus.sa国际传媒�
The BCEBC reviews electoral ridings after every second provincial election and is proposing six new ridings in its report. The change would bring the total number of seats in the legislature to 93. Justice Iyer noted the recommendation is a response to B.C.sa国际传媒檚 population growing by more than 300,000 people over the past five years.
The commission has until April 3, 2023, to present its final report to the B.C. Legislature, which will then decide whether to accept some or all of the recommendations.
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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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