Commission lays out new electoral divisions

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This article was published 24/12/2018 (2656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Like the rest of the province, ridings in West Winnipeg got a shake up last week with the release of the final report from the 2018 Manitoba Electoral Boundaries Commission. 

The independent commission — which is required by law to review the electoral boundaries every 10 years — adjusted 56 of the province’s 57 ridings this year to correct for current and future population growth. 

The former Charleswood riding had the lowest population in Winnipeg with 19,385 residents. It was expanded to include the RM of Headingley and renamed to Roblin for the thoroughfare that runs through both areas. 

“That was a significant change,” Election Manitoba’s communications manager Alison Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the new provincial electoral divisions were set to provide each constituency with an fairly equal population of approximately 22,427. The new boundaries also reflect the growing populations in communities such as Headingley and West St. Paul surrounding the City of Winnipeg, as these communities will be in ridings that blend rural and urban residents.

“There is that overlap,” she said.

She said the commission members looked at growth projections over the next 10 years and also considered natural boundaries such as rivers and lakes, as well as patterns of business and travel.

In a response to concern from St. James residents, the commission adjusted the riding’s boundaries to include the airport and traditional neighbourhoods. The constituency now runs roughly from Moray Street in the west to Erin Street in the east; and from Notre Dame Avenue in the north down to the Assiniboine river. 

Minto has been wiped from the map and the former West End riding has been split between the new constituencies of Notre Dame (formerly Tyndall Park) and Union Station (formlerly Logan). 

The ridings of Wolseley, Kirkfield Park and Assiniboia saw minor boundary changes as well to accommodate the adjustments in St. James. 

These changes come into effect during the next provincial election, which is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2020.

Visit boundariescommission.mb.ca for more information. 

— With files from Andrea Geary