City council is supporting proposed amendments to provincial electoral boundaries.
Specifically that Kelowna should be represented by three ridings entirely on the east side of Okanagan Lake.
“It’s consistent I think with what the MLAs have also stepped forward to say that they actually support three ridings on the east side of Okanagan Lake,” said Councilor Luke Stack. “When I look at some of the things that are proposed, they are totally logical.”
Earlier this year Liberal MLAs Renee Merrifield, Ben Stewart, and Norm Letnick proposed redrawing those ridings, adding a new Kelowna Center riding and a fourth MLA.
The city is currently represented by the ridings of Kelowna-Lake Country, Kelowna-Mission, and Kelowna West, which includes West Kelowna and stretches east across the lake to Spall Road and Glenmore Drive.
Population growth and other geographic and demographic factors coming into consideration when making boundary adjustments. According to the city’s Official Community Plan the highest growth over the next several years is expected in the Downtown, Capri-Landmark, and Core Central areas followed by Rutland, Glenmore, Midtown, and South Pandosy.
Staff will make an online submission, on behalf of council, to the BC Electoral Boundaries Commission supporting the boundary amendments.
The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission (FEBC) also started the separate process of reviewing federal electoral boundaries. In May the FEBC released its proposed recommendations for federal ridings in BC. City staff are reviewing the proposal and will report back to council.
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@GaryBarnes109
gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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