A proposal redrawing BC’s federal ridings has moved Powell River from the mainland to Vancouver Island.
The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for BC released its preliminary report for the province recently. The three-member non-partisan commission proposes that Powell River join Vancouver Island North. Currently it is part of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country.
Electoral commissions were created in every province after legislation was passed to increase the total number of ridings in the country from 308 to 338.
The BC commission proposes that Powell River Regional District, except for Lasqueti Island, would be part of Vancouver Island North, which would have a population of 110,769 and include the Mount Waddington and Strathcona regional districts, as well as Powell River.
John Hall, chair of the BC commission, said the main reason for putting Powell River with Vancouver Island North was the numbers.
The commission had to create six ridings in BC, Hall said, and most of the seats are going in the Lower Mainland, where there is large population growth. “In round numbers, there are four seats that are new, but there are big changes, all the way from North Vancouver to Richmond right out to Chilliwack,” he said. “There are a lot of redesigned ridings there.” There is also one new seat being created in Vancouver.
When the boundaries were last changed, the commission wanted to cut West Vancouver back a bit, Hall explained, but the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games intruded on that. “It started out as a bigger than normal riding. By the time we got to this process in 2012, it was a hugely over-sized riding and North Vancouver had grown quite a bit too. So the two North Shore ridings were big.”
Looking at the numbers, the commission decided Vancouver Island could accommodate the remaining seat, but that raised the question of what to do about West Vancouver. “For a long time, I thought I’ll leave Powell River in West Van if I can, because it’s there and you don’t like to change things if you don’t have to,” Hall said. “Finally, the commissioner who is from Vancouver Island said, there’s a pretty good ferry connection between Powell River and Little River and maybe people are more connected to the island than they are to West Van, because you have two ferry rides to get there.”
The commission looked at that and saw that they didn’t have to have Powell River in with Vancouver Island for the numbers. “But on the other hand, moving Powell River to be associated with Vancouver Island North makes the numbers pretty consistent through the island,” Hall said. “So we said, let’s see what that’s like.”
The commission is holding a series of public hearings throughout the fall to gather input from residents about its proposal. Hall said the commission will be listening to what people say. “There are situations where you really are in difficulty, you can’t make any moves at all,” he said. “But there are others, and Powell River may be one of those, where, if people think you’re really wrong, you have to go back and take a second look at it. But maybe we’re not wrong. Maybe it’s a good idea. I’m not sure.”
Hall said he thought there were two opportunities for Powell River residents to attend public hearings about the proposal. The first is in Squamish on Tuesday, September 11 and the second is in Courtenay on Monday, October 15.
As well, Hall said, people can write or email the commission to share their views.
Residents who would like to make a presentation have to notify the commission in writing by August 30.
From 1987 to 1997, Powell River was part of the North Island-Powell River riding, which was created from parts of Comox-Powell River, which existed from 1976 to 1987. Both ridings included the Sunshine Coast Regional District, but in the commission’s proposal, it would remain with the existing riding.
West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast was created in 1996 from parts of Capilano-Howe Sound and North Island-Powell River. It was renamed in 2003.
John Duncan, MP for Vancouver Island North and minister of aboriginal affairs and northern development, represented Powell River between 1993 and 1997 when the North Island-Powell River riding stretched from Gibsons to Bella Coola and Oyster River north on Vancouver Island. “I like Powell River a lot,” he said. “I have no difficulty accepting Powell River.”
Where he is having difficulty with the proposed new electoral map is the fact the commission is breaking up Courtenay, Duncan said. “It’s not going down well in that area,” he said. “At first blush it seems strange that they would bring an entire community into my riding and break up an existing community in my riding.”
Duncan said his first line of defence will be to try to keep at least Courtenay intact, if not more of the Comox Valley.
MP John Weston, who has represented West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky riding since 2008, said he has mixed feelings about the commission’s proposal when it comes to Powell River. “I could never have predicted the strong affection I have for this community and the level to which I’ve become engaged,” he said.
While he wants British Columbians to be better represented with more seats in the house, Weston said, he would be “very reluctant to not be Powell River’s member of Parliament, should I have the honour to be re-elected.”
MLA Nicholas Simons, who represents Powell River-Sunshine Coast, said the Upper Sunshine Coast is related to the North Island and the Lower Sunshine Coast might be related to the Lower Mainland. “But the Upper and Lower Coast (Powell River - Sunshine Coast) are like fraternal twins,” he said. “We look different, but there’s more that makes us similar than makes us different.”
City of Powell River Mayor Dave Formosa said he likes the existing boundaries. “I think we have an affiliation with the Lower Sunshine Coast and I’d like to keep that affiliation with them,” he said. “I think if we move over to the island, although it makes some sense geographically, it makes more sense, in our oneness with the Sunshine Coast, to be with them.”
Scott Randolph, manager of the Powell River Regional Economic Development Society, also cited the bonds the community has with the Lower Sunshine Coast. “Issues-wise, we’re more closely aligned with communities on the north island than we are with those in West Vancouver and resort communities such as Whistler,” he said. “Unfortunately, we would lose that synergy with the Lower Sunshine Coast by having us split into a different riding.”
Paul Kamon, Tourism Powell River marketing director, said his organization has been working hard to dispel the misconception that Powell River is on Vancouver Island or is an island. “When I speak to people in Vancouver, Powell River is often confused with Campbell River on Vancouver Island, which is frustrating,” he said. “Politics aside, the simple fact is we are part of the Sunshine Coast and should remain that way.”
More information on the commission and how to inform it of an intention to make a presentation at a public hearing can be found on its website.
