Interim Report Available

The Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission released its interim report today, Nov. 28, in both English and French.

Commission members were appointed in July by an all-party select committee of the House of Assembly and were provided with broad terms of reference, largely drawn from the report of the Keefe Commission.

A fixed number of seats was not mandated, although the commission was required to have one set of boundaries of 51 seats, the current size of the house, and at least one different total number of electoral districts.

“The key issues confronting this commission are essentially those that challenged the previous commissions,” said chair Colin Dodds. “They are how to balance effective representation of African Nova Scotian and Acadian electors with voter parity and accommodate the ongoing shift of population from rural areas as well as taking account of the geography of the province.”

The commission did produce a draft of proposed boundaries which restored the four previously protected electoral districts with an additional seat in Bedford and significant realignment in Cole Harbour, as well as options for the Chéticamp area in the Inverness riding, which has a large Acadian population.

Provincewide public consultations began in early September and the commission thanks those citizens who came out to give their views on its draft and on the idea of non-contiguous electoral districts as well as the concept of members at large to represent African Nova Scotians and Acadians.

The commission is presenting four alternatives, that are not in order, for consideration by electors:

• 51 electoral districts for the House of Assembly with minor adjustment to the existing boundaries
• 55 electoral districts, which include the four formerly protected electoral districts of Argyle, Clare, Preston and Richmond
• 55 electoral districts but 56 seats in the house which would include the dual-member electoral district of Inverness, which would have one MLA to represent the geographic electoral district, and one MLA to represent the Acadian electors
• 56 electoral districts which would include the added district of Chéticamp

The commission recognizes that apart from the 51 seat configuration, some existing electoral districts will experience significant shifts in boundaries, but tried to respect municipal boundaries and communities of interest, as well as, geographical features such as highways and bodies of water.

Another round of public consultations will begin on Jan. 4, in Antigonish. The terms of reference require the commission to recommend a single set of boundaries by April 1, for consideration by the House of Assembly.

The interim report can be found online at http://nselectoralboundaries.ca.