The final report of BC’s electoral boundaries commission calls for the Kootenay West riding to take in the Monashees to the west and change its name.
The commission’s draft report suggested moving Christina Lake to neighbouring Kootenay West as part of a larger exercise at balancing out populations between ridings.
However, based on public feedback, the commission relented and now recommends leaving Christina Lake in Boundary-Similkameen. Instead, they propose moving the Monashee area, including Cheryville, into Kootenay West and renaming it Kootenay-Monashee.
“Cherryville shares a transportation corridor with Upper Arrow Lakes communities,” the commission wrote. “This boundary adjustment also better balances the population of
Kootenay-Monashee with the adjacent riding centred on Vernon.”
The commission maintained a proposal in its draft of moving Nakusp, New Denver, and Silverton from Kootenay West to Nelson-Creston, which would be renamed Kootenay Central.
However, that move is being panned by Slocan Valley regional district director Walter Popoff, who would prefer all of his area fall within a single provincial riding.
“I’m really disappointed,” he said. “It’s very inconsistent. They’ve carved up Area H, which I’m not too happy about. If you’re going to move it, move all of it.”
Popoff said he provided input to the commission in writing, but to no avail.
He is also critical of a proposed change to the federal riding boundaries that would see the Slocan Valley lumped in with a Vernon riding. He said it has been convenient for his constituents to have an MP with an office in Castlegar, and he hopes if someone from Vernon is elected they will establish a satellite office in the Slocan.
The changes still need the approval of the BC legislature before they are enacted for the next provincial election.
