St. Norbert wiped off electoral boundaries map

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This article was published 20/12/2018 (2662 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The political landscape will look substantially different when voters head to the polls for the next provincial election.

The Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission has released its final report which changes the boundaries of 56 of the 57 electoral divisions and 14 electoral division names.

The changes come into effect for the 42nd general election, set for Oct. 6, 2020.

As part of the changes, the commission has eliminated the constituency of St. Norbert and redistributed voters into the new Seine River, Fort Richmond, and Waverley electoral divisions.

The new Seine River constituency closely follows the newly drawn St. Norbert-Seine River municipal ward, straddling the Red River.

St. Norbert MLA Jon Reyes’ office declined an interview regarding the changes.

In an emailed statement to Canstar Community News, chief executive officer of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba Keith Stewart said they are analyzing the report to properly brief their members.

“PC MLAs will continue working hard to represent their existing constituencies until the next election. Our preparations are well underway for the next election and the PC Party will present a team of exceptionally qualified candidates to each of the 57 new constituencies,” Stewart said.  

According to the final report, certain electoral divisions were significantly over the population quotient, including Fort Whyte, St. Norbert, The Maples, Southdale, and Rossmere, and needed to be adjusted to balance populations.

The growing communities of South Pointe and Bridgwater have been consolidated to create a new electoral division called Waverley.

During the commission’s mandate, it heard from community members on several occasions and incorporated feedback into the final report. Over 200 submissions were received about the current and proposed boundaries and a total of 182 people came to 13 public hearings.

“To maintain public confidence in the electoral division redistribution process, public consultation is vital,” Chief Justice of Manitoba Richard Chartier, chair of the commission, said. “The public’s submissions greatly assisted us in making the final determinations of the boundaries.”

According to the commission, much of the public feedback concerned four divisions. Namely, folks in Fort Rouge were concerned about a proposed division of Lord Roberts and Riverview. The two communities were ultimately kept together and brought under the fold of Fort Rouge, along with Osborne Village.

James Allum, the MLA for Fort Garry-Riverview, said he was happy with the realignment of the constituency and South Osborne’s absorption into Fort Rouge.

“I’m really pleased that the boundary commission listened to the community when they spoke out and made the appropriate changes. I think it’s really important that South Osborne remain as one,” he said.

“Most of us who live up here regard ourselves as Fort Rougers, so it’s really a reuniting a constituency that frankly belongs together.”

The current Fort Garry-Riverview constituency has been eliminated and Fort Garry remains as a stand alone division extending north to Corydon Avenue.

Fort Richmond’s electoral division boundary has also been pushed west to meet the Waverley division at Shahi Street.

The 2018 Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission was established in January to review the electoral division boundaries for Manitoba provincial elections. Under The Electoral Divisions Act, the boundaries are reviewed every 10 years.

The commission’s members included University of Manitoba president and vice-chancellor David Barnard, Brandon University interim president and vice-chancellor Steven Robinson, University College of the North dean of arts, business and science Harvey Briggs,and Manitoba’s chief electoral officer Shipra Verma.

The final report and maps can be viewed at www.boundariescommission.mb.ca