Could New Westminster’s needs be erased in new electoral districts being proposed in B.C.?
New Westminster city council is objecting to a plan that would divide the city into two federal ridings – each of which would each be comprised of three cities. In an attempt to equalize populations in electoral districts across the province, the Electoral Boundaries commission for B.C. is proposing the creation of two electoral districts in New Westminster – New Westminster-Bridgeview and Richmond East.
According to a staff report to council, New Westminster-Bridgeview would result in the loss of part of the existing territory in Burnaby, but it would see the addition of parts of North Surrey, including areas near the foot of the Pattullo Bridge and the Brownsville neighbourhood.
Like the existing provincial riding, Richmond East would include Queensborough and parts of Richmond. It would also include parts of Delta – the western section of North Delta and an area in Tilbury that borders on the Fraser River.
“It would be better to keep New Westminster as one cohesive riding electorally,” said Coun. Nadine Nakagawa. “I don’t think either of those proposed riding boundaries serve our community as a whole.”
Nakagawa said members of Parliament spend a lot of time in Ottawa advocating on behalf of their communities but they’re also active in the community. She said their constituency offices do a lot of casework on issues such as immigration and senior’s benefits.
“It would be a real disadvantage not to have a strong advocate for our community, both in Ottawa but in our local offices too,” she said. “I strongly oppose what is being proposed here and really would like to encourage the community to also provide input as to whether or not they think this proposal serves us.”
City council is writing to the Electoral Boundaries Commission for British Columbia to express its concern about the proposed redistribution of federal districts for New West.
Coun. Jaimie McEvoy expressed concern that “New Westminster’s vote is essentially erased” in the potential makeup of the two new ridings.
“The Richmond riding, I look and it includes North Delta. Are they going to canoe across?” he said.
McEvoy said New Westminster has benefited by having a member of Parliament who supports the city on various issues, but he fears that support could be hampered under the proposed electoral boundaries.
“It’s a serious issue, what kind of representation we have,” he said. “It needs to be noted that we are a city; we are actually considered a large city in British Columbia. We deserve to have federal representation that recognizes that, in the structure of the seats.”
The New Westminster-Burnaby riding, currently represented by NDP MP Peter Julian, is comprised of all of New Westminster and parts of Burnaby. It was created in 2003.
Coun. Patrick Johnstone also voiced concerns about the impact the proposed boundaries would have on constituency services provided by the MPs, who would each be representing three major urban areas. He suggested the city’s letter to the Electoral Boundaries Commission to B.C. reflect its concerns about the impacts on constituency services.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr expressed concern about the ability of MPs to do their job properly if they’re spread into three different communities.
“I cannot imagine a member of Parliament having to attend events in New Westminster, Surrey and Delta,” he said. “It just isn’t doable. I hope, at the very least, that we can retain the New Westminster.”
Puchmayr said he hopes the commission abandons the idea of including three cities in each riding.
“This is not like a prairie riding where you have may have multiple cities but small populations. This is a large population,” he said. “We have a member of parliament that works very hard for us and attends all of these events. I hope they listen to us.”
The Electoral Boundaries Commission of British Columbia is holding public hearings around the province to get input about the proposed changes. A public hearing will be held in New Westminster on Wednesday Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Inn at the Quay.
A June 27 staff report outlined the advantages and challenges (from the City of New Westminster's perspective) of the proposed changes to electoral boundaries in New Westminster.
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