New Constituencies, mergers for existing ones potential solutions for proposed commission to explore on representation concerns for BC Legislature

With one of the smaller populations of the 87 constituencies
the North Coast riding could make for some special study
for a new commission to be created to explore how
British Columbians are represented
(Map from Elections BC)

Depending on the findings from a soon to be established commission, North Coast Residents may have a totally different riding map, or even one day be voting in a much larger constituency.

All of  that depending on the path that the BC Government takes following its latest consultation plan directed to addressing the balance of representation at the BC Legislature. 

The blue print towards the road ahead for the Legislature members and those who vote for them was outlined on Monday, with plans for a commission to be created to explore the options.

Among some of the areas of note that the commission will explore:

The intent of these amendments is to ensure the location of political boundaries between seats is determined not by politicians, but by an independent commission. 

With the population of the province continuing to grow, the issue appears to be proper representation for those areas of British Columbia that are seeing the largest amount of growth.

The process will not be guided by political interests, but by a legislated mandate to establish effective representation for British Columbians. 

The commission will be asked to achieve through recommendations – to the extent possible – the fundamental democratic principle that everyone’s vote should be reasonably equal in weight in choosing elected officials. Other factors that will be considered by the commission under the legislation will be population, geography, means of communication and means of transportation to help ensure effective representation. 

Responding to B.C. population growth and restoring flexibility to the commission: The proposed amendments include changes to enhance the commission’s ability to respond to B.C.’s significant population growth. 

Towards that element, the introduction to the process notes: 

The current legislation caps the maximum number of electoral districts at 87, which is the current number of electoral districts. One of the amendments would give the commission the option to recommend adding up to as many as six new districts, ensuring the commission has the flexibility to develop an electoral map that supports effective representation throughout the province.

Of the 87 current ridings, the North Coast is among the ridings with least amount of population, with Elections BC data from 2017 showing that there were only 14,220 eligible voters in the constituency.

That's something that could make it a potential target for merger with a larger Skeena, the same could be said for the Stikine region which could be folded in either east or west to neighbouring constituencies.

Even more concerning  is the low level of voter participation that appears to be the trend for the North Coast, which saw less than 6300 votes cast in 2020, something that could sway the commission in its work.

You can review the current make up of all 87 ridings here, offering a chance for British Columbians to explore each constituency and see how they might want to redesign the make up for the commission.

As they move forward with their work, the committee will look to consider the following.

The amendments continue the principles that: the commission must seek to recommend electoral districts with populations within plus or minus 25% of the average electoral district population; and the commission may recommend electoral districts with populations outside that range. 

However, the proposed amendments further recognize the representation concerns in less populated regions by specifying that the commission may take into account special considerations respecting demographic and geographic factors. These factors include keeping a manageable geographic size for electoral districts in order to ensure effective representation.

Once created, the commission should be of particular interest for municipal governments across the province, particularly in the Northwest which would surely wish to submit a presentation on the impact of merging or the plans for  redistribution of existing ridings.

The government plans to announce the make up of the membership of the commission by October 24th,  it will provide for an initial report one year following its creation, with a six month consultation period with the public anticipated.

The NDP government hasn't outlined what it believes the consultation process may look like, but a good template probably will be to review the consultation process related to the last review of how we vote and the referendum on electoral system reform.

More notes on the government's ambitions towards Electoral representation reform can be reviewed here.

Further items of interest on the provincial government and Legislature can be reviewed from our archive page.