Area restructuring raises eyebrows

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 29, 2015 at 1:00 AM
The prospect of Greater Vernon having two MLAs is raising eyebrows among local officials. The B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission has issued recommendations for the 2017 provincial election. It suggests removing the Swan Lake area and a portion of the BX from Vernon-Monashee and putting it in the Shuswap constituency. “It sounds a bit odd to carve off pieces of Greater Vernon,” said Bob Fleming, BX-Swan Lake director. The proposed electoral area district boundary would follow the Vernon municipal boundary around Swan Lake and Silver Star Foothills to the Spallumcheen boundary. The Swan Lake commercial corridor along Highway 97 would join the Shuswap constituency as would Old Kamloops Road (except for the Blue Jay subdivision). Silver Star Road would be the boundary between the two constituencies — meaning the BX fire hall would be in the Shuswap but BX Elementary would be in Vernon-Monashee. All of the regional district’s BX-Swan Lake electoral area would be in the Shuswap but BX-Silver Star would be divided. “We will have to sit down and see what it means for residents,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director. Silver Star Foothills, which is part of the City of Vernon, will remain in Vernon-Monashee. Fleming says the four Greater Vernon jurisdictions are linked over issues such as water and two provincial boundaries could create challenges. “If we’re dealing with the provincial government, we could deal with two MLAs related to the Greater Vernon area,” he said. Akbal Mund, Vernon mayor, has concerns about the electoral areas having an MLA distinct from the city. “What happens if in the future, the Swan Lake corridor becomes part of Vernon?” he said. The B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission says there’s a need to adjust boundaries because Vernon-Monashee is the most populated constituency in the region while Shuswap is the second smallest. “Public input recommended that if changes were needed to balance the population in this area, we could consider moving the community of Swan Lake from Vernon-Monashee to Shuswap without reducing the effectiveness of representation,” states the commission in its report. Residents are being asked to review the preliminary recommendations and provide input online or by e-mail by May 26. Public hearings will also be held across B.C. “We then will analyze this input over the summer before producing our final proposals,” states the commission, adding that the deadline to present a final report to the Legislature is Sept. 25. Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, supports the commission’s initial findings. “I don’t think as far as service to the public, it will make a lot of difference. We will still look after them,” he said. Greg Kyllo, Shuswap MLA, doesn’t have any concerns about his constituency expanding south if he is re-elected in 2017. “If it includes Swan Lake, it just adds about three miles,” he said.