LadysmithB次元官网网址檚 mayor plans to speak with the province after the B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission released its final report for re-designed ridings.
The commission presented its final report last week, recommending that the Greater Nanaimo areaB次元官网网址檚 three ridings be re-aligned into Nanaimo-Gabriola, Nanaimo-Lantzville and Ladysmith-Oceanside.
The proposed change would mean that Ladysmith, Saltair and Cassidy would become part of a riding with Nanoose Bay, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, encircling NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 two ridings.
Ladysmith Mayor Aaron Stone said he disagrees with the proposal, stating the new ridings will create a disconnect B次元官网网址渢hat just doesnB次元官网网址檛 make sense.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚f you look at the previous few censuses, weB次元官网网址檙e all focused on different demographic directions,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧arksville and Qualicum are continuing to age while weB次元官网网址檙e continuing to try to attract families and get younger.B次元官网网址�
Stone said historically, Ladysmith has strong ties with communities in the Cowichan Valley and noted that the town is a member of the Cowichan Valley Regional District. He said it B次元官网网址渂ecomes really challenging when we donB次元官网网址檛 have those established relationships in representation.B次元官网网址�
Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan, suggested heB次元官网网址檚 indifferent to the recommended riding changes.
B次元官网网址淸Boundaries] are always more difficult when theyB次元官网网址檙e first issued, then people adapt and find ways to build new relationships, and preserve those that they already have,B次元官网网址� he said.
Routley has been serving as an MLA to the Ladysmith and south Nanaimo area since 2005 and he has experienced multiple boundary changes in his career.
B次元官网网址淭he past couple of terms IB次元官网网址檝e have had to go into the Nanaimo constituency to take a ferry to Gabriola to an island I represent as [Nanaimo]-North Cowichan. So that was a little different. I can definitely empathize with people,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut again, everyone from [Ladysmith council] and the various council members on Chemainus council, the school board trustees, weB次元官网网址檝e got a really dynamic and capable group of people who are doing really good things. I find them all to be really good partners and I just have a lot of confidence that theyB次元官网网址檒l translate that into the new arrangements.B次元官网网址�
In the commissionB次元官网网址檚 final report, the boundary between the Nanaimo-Gabriola and Nanaimo-Lantzville ridings is Strathmore Street and Meredith Road.
The electoral boundaries commission held consultation in Nanaimo in November based on its preliminary report. The alignment of the Greater Nanaimo ridings in the preliminary report was significantly different and the ridings were referred to at the time as Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Nanaimo-Gabriola and Nanaimo-Oceanside.
The commissionB次元官网网址檚 final report to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Legislative Assembly was tabled on Monday, April 3. It is now up to the legislature to decide whether to accept the recommendations.
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