Headingley may soon appear on Canada’s federal constituencies roll.

A proposal to add Headingley to the end of the existing Charleswood-St. James- Assiniboia constituency title was made in October to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Manitoba.

Every 10 years, the commission operates independently in each province to hold public hearings and receive proposals on new constituency boundaries and name changes. Commission members then send a report to the Speaker of the House of Commons who passes it on to a committee of parliamentarians for their consideration. It is then returned to the provincial boundaries commission.

MP for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia Steven Fletcher brought the name change forward in his presentation to the commission.

"I think it would be more reflective of the riding," he said, adding that he always mentions Headingley in his constituency literature.

Commission chair for Manitoba Richard Chartier said 70 proposals were made at the recent hearings and the Headingley name change was one of five proposed name changes within the province.

"It was a lengthy name and it becomes even lengthier," said Chartier, but he added that there are other equally long constituency names elsewhere.

RM of Headingley councillors were asked to approve the name change proposal and councillor James Robson said they were happy to do so.

"I think it’s great," he said. "We like to be seen as being a separate community."
Chartier said the commission’s recommendations should be finalized by next March.

andreageary@canstarnews.com