British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission - 1112 Fort Street / Suite 100 - Victoria, B.C

Preliminary Report

MARCH 26, 2015 March 26, 2015

Honourable Linda Reid Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Province of British Columbia Parliament Buildings Victoria, British Columbia V8V 1X4

Dear Madame Speaker:

We have the pleasure to submit our Preliminary Report in accordance with section 10(1) of the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act.

Respectfully,

The Hon. Mr. Justice Thomas J. Melnick Commission Chair

Beverley Busson, O.B.C. Commissioner

Keith Archer, Ph.D. Chief Electoral Officer Commissioner

BRITISH COLUMBIA ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES COMMISSION - 1112 FORT STREET / SUITE 100 - VICTORIA, B.C. V8V 3K8 Table of contents

Table of contents ...... i

List of figures and tables ...... iii

Executive summary ...... 2

Mandate...... 12

Process...... 20

Proposals...... 24

North Region...... 25

Cariboo-Thompson Region...... 35

Columbia-Kootenay Region...... 43

Okanagan/Shuswap...... 49

Lower Mainland...... 59

Greater Vancouver...... 59 Table of contentsTable Fraser Valley...... 64

Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast...... 116

Next steps...... 136

Appendices...... 138

Appendix A: Population estimates, current 85 electoral districts (2008 Commission) ...... 138

Appendix B: Population estimates, proposed 87 electoral districts (2015 Commission)...... 141

Appendix C: First round public hearings schedule – Fall 2014...... 144

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | i List of figures and tables

List of figures and tables

Figure 1: 2015 Electoral Boundaries Commission timeline...... 16

Figure 2: Map legend...... 24

Table 1: North Region...... 8

Table 2: Cariboo-Thompson Region...... 8

Table 3: Columbia-Kootenay Region...... 8

Table 4: Okanagan/Shuswap...... 8

Table 5: Lower Mainland – Greater Vancouver...... 8

Table 6: Lower Mainland – Fraser Valley...... 9

Table 7: Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast...... 9

Table 8: Defined regions...... 13

Table 9: Proposed electoral districts – North Region ...... 25

Table 10: Proposed electoral districts – Cariboo-Thompson Region ...... 36

Table 11: Proposed electoral districts – Columbia-Kootenay Region ...... 43

Table 12: Proposed electoral districts – Okanagan/Shuswap...... 50 tables and figures of List

Table 13: Proposed electoral districts – Lower Mainland – Greater Vancouver...... 63

Table 14: Proposed electoral districts – Lower Mainland – Fraser Valley...... 65

Table 15: Proposed electoral districts – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast ...... 118

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | iii Executive summary

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Executive summary Executive summary they would suggest. if any, what changes, and current districts, electoral of the opinions their about from Columbians British hear We first wanted and to mind open keep an be. should boundaries district any of electoral the what not to about form opinions early important province. in the commissions It was boundaries of electoral history the and boundaries, electoral setting and naturethe process of and assessing about ourselves by duties our educating We began 2 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report are: May on 9, appointed was commission 2014.Our We of Columbia. British districts of electoral the names and to changes boundaries area, propose the to election general second every after established be must commission boundaries electoral new Act Commission by Electoral the Boundaries prescribed allareas province. in As of effective the and equitable remains of by constituents MLAs ensure that representation the boundaries the reviews of province, the throughout periodic isnot uniform growth Recognizing that population of constituents. number represent asimilar to possible, should, degree the each MLA of by representation principle population, in accordance Intheory, with the districts. electoral of provincial 85 constituents represent the the to are currently There MLAs 85 (MLA). Assembly of Legislative the by aMember Legislative Assembly are represented Columbians British All in the summary Executive the provincethe of Columbia British Keith Archer, Ph.D., Chief Electoralfor Officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Policeof Royal the Canadian Commissioner O.B.C., former Beverley Busson, Supreme Court of (Chair) Columbia British Court Supreme Justice ofMr. the Melnick, Justice Thomas , a added a district to adistrict each community.added Surrey we where and in Richmond particularly Lower in the are Mainland, proposed changes are relatively of minor. changes the Most Substantial to changes propose 49 of current the districts. 85 we districts, electoral additional to two Further these Act Commission allowable by Electoral the Boundaries from current the two number, maximum the and increase an of to 87districts, propose electoral decision our influenced also It has in population. that are equal to districts electoral propose ability measureour large in of influenced course, has, current from reduced their be number.cannot This districts of electoral Region) number the in which Columbia-Kootenay the and Region, Thompson Cariboo- the of province the Region, (the North Commission Act to Electoral the Boundaries Amendments within this framework. decision-making our that assist would legislation from flowing the guidelines additional developed we input, their upon is warranted. Reflecting change they feel where and boundaries existing the received about from British Columbians Freedoms Act Commission byforemost Electoral the Boundaries and first we are guided proposals our In making representation. effective and interactions these enable and affect boundaries electoral how the representatives and elected interact with their Columbians British how in understanding helpful very been has input of All this period. website,our this same during through largely 295 submissions, written additional We from presenters. 128 received hearing an and travelled province, the 29 communities visiting Between September and November 2014 we . Canadian Charter Canadian the of and Rights and . We have of all input the considered in May 2014 three regions defined Executive summary

The substantial changes are summarized below. input to us online, by email or mail by 11:59 p.m. More detail about all the changes, along with maps on May 26, 2015. We also will conduct public of our proposed electoral districts are contained in hearings in communities across British Columbia in the Proposals section of this report. An interactive April and May. We then will analyze this input over map of current and proposed electoral districts will the summer before producing our final proposals. be available on the commission website. According to the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, these final proposals must be submitted as With the release of this Preliminary Report, we look recommendations to the Legislative Assembly again to British Columbians to present your opinions by September 25, 2015 – six months after the of our proposals. We encourage you to submit your submission of this report.

City City Substantial changes Coquitlam-Maillardville of Port of Pitt Electoral District Coquitlam Meadows À¿7 Surrey ¯ Fraser River Current districts are well over the provincial average (two of eight more than 25% over) and this is also an area of high growth Surrey-Whalley Surrey-Guildford Electoral District Electoral District An electoral district is added to this area and 100 Ave

boundaries are substantially altered to rebalance 96 Ave y e l 1 g the population Surrey-Green À¿ n a L Timbers 88 Ave f o The Cloverdale community is too large for a Electoral p

Surrey-Fleetwood i

District F h single district and parts of the community are Electoral District ra s

80 Ave se n r Executive summary included in two electoral districts. Efforts were H w w o

y T made to maintain the entire downtown core in Surrey-Newton Surrey-Clov t erd t ale

S one district Electoral District S

Electoral District

1 We strived to maintain communities of interest 1 64 Ave City of

Surrey-Pan y

to the extent possible orama Surrey e l Electoral D 56 Ave g Aldergrove-Abb

istrict n otsford Electoral District

i C

Surrey South Electoral District 32 Ave y e l g

24 Ave n a L

f o

p i h s

City of 99 n

À¿ w White o Surrey-White Rock Rock T Electoral District 0 Ave

1:200,000 Washington

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | 3 Executive summary

Comox Valley and mid-Vancouver Island

The disparity between the neighbouring districts With the proposed changes, Cumberland, of Comox Valley (22% over the provincial Royston and the southern Comox Valley are average) and Alberni-Pacific Rim (18% under the now part of our proposed Mid Island-Pacific Rim provincial average) is too great electoral district, bringing both districts much closer to the provincial average while ensuring Despite many submissions requesting no strong communities of interest in both change to the Comox Valley we concluded that the relative disparity (both now and in the near future) is too great to ignore

City of Powell ¯ Town River-Sunshine Courtenay of Comox Coast Electoral District Buttle Courtenay-Comox ! Royston Lake Electoral Village of Strathcona District Comox Cumberland Regional District Lake

Comox Valley North Island Electoral À¿19 À¿19!A Electoral Area "C" Comox Valley Denman District Electoral Area "A" Island

Comox Valley Hornby sabl !Buckley Bay Regional District T e Riv Island Strathcona er Provincial Park Mid Island-Pacific Rim Fanny Bay Electoral District !

Alberni-Clayoquot ! A Deep Bay s Nanaimo Regional District Elsie h Oshinow R Regional District Lake i v e Lake Bowser Executive summary 1:400,000 r !

Other communities in which changes are proposed are:

Burnaby Capital Region Cranbrook area Kamloops area Nanaimo area North Shore Prince George Tri-Cities Vancouver Vernon/Swan Lake Williams Lake

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | 7 Executive summary

The following tables show the population and Table 4: Okanagan/Shuswap deviation from the provincial average in each of our Electoral district Population Deviation proposed electoral districts. (%) Shuswap 59,572 12.1 Table 1: North Region1 Vernon-Monashee 58,886 10.9

Deviation Kelowna-Lake Country 61,113 15.0 Electoral district Population (%) Kelowna West 59,750 12.5 Stikine 20,616 -61.2 Kelowna-Mission 60,403 13.7 Peace River North 43,263 -18.6 Penticton 56,722 6.8 Peace River South 28,104 -47.1 Boundary-Similkameen 42,340 -20.3 Prince George-Valemount 48,267 -9.1 Prince George-Mackenzie 46,894 -11.7 Table 5: Lower Mainland – Greater Vancouver Nechako Lakes 27,692 -47.9 Deviation Skeena 30,240 -43.1 Electoral district Population (%) North Coast 22,382 -57.9 Vancouver-Point Grey 60,611 14.1 Vancouver-Quilchena 59,953 12.9 Table 2: Cariboo-Thompson Region Vancouver-Fairview 59,701 12.4 Deviation Vancouver-Langara 60,041 13.0 Electoral district Population (%) Vancouver-Kensington 61,250 15.3 Cariboo North 29,542 -44.4 Vancouver-Fraserview 62,885 18.4 Cariboo-Chilcotin 33,520 -36.9 Vancouver-Kingsway 62,459 17.6 Kamloops-North Thompson 54,014 1.7 Vancouver-Hastings 59,491 12.0 Kamloops-South Thompson 56,410 6.2 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant 58,041 9.3

Executive summary Fraser-Nicola 33,980 -36.0 Vancouver-False Creek 57,261 7.8 Vancouver-West End 57,287 7.8 Table 3: Columbia-Kootenay Region West Vancouver-Sea to Sky 54,894 3.3 Deviation Electoral district Population (%) West Vancouver-Capilano 57,173 7.6 Kootenay West 41,302 -22.2 North Vancouver-Lonsdale 57,431 8.1 Nelson-Creston 36,907 -30.5 North Vancouver-Seymour 58,120 9.4 Kootenay East 40,466 -23.8 Port Moody-Coquitlam 59,355 11.7 Columbia River-Revelstoke 31,907 -39.9 Coquitlam-Burke Mountain 59,029 11.1 Port Coquitlam 60,813 14.5 Coquitlam-Maillardville 58,351 9.8 Burnaby-Lougheed 59,797 12.6 Burnaby North 58,159 9.5 Burnaby-Deer Lake 58,195 9.6 Burnaby-Edmonds 60,439 13.8 1 All population figures in this report are as of May 10, 2014. All New Westminster 61,422 15.6 population deviations are based on a provincial population of 4,621,394, the proposed 87 electoral districts and an electoral Richmond-Queensborough 55,627 4.7 quotient of 53,119.

8 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Executive summary

Table 5: Lower Mainland – Greater Vancouver Table 7: Vancouver Island and the Sunshine continued Coast

Deviation Deviation Electoral district Population (%) Electoral district Population (%) Richmond North Centre 49,157 -7.5 Powell River-Sunshine Coast 50,039 -5.8 Richmond South Centre 50,101 -5.7 North Island 55,633 4.7 Richmond-Steveston 55,539 4.6 Courtenay-Comox 54,816 3.2 Delta South 47,577 -10.4 Mid Island-Pacific Rim 52,833 -0.5 Delta North 55,011 3.6 Parksville-Qualicum 54,089 1.8 Surrey-Whalley 58,668 10.4 Nanaimo 55,998 5.4 Surrey-Guildford 58,037 9.3 Nanaimo-North Cowichan 53,424 0.6 Surrey-Cloverdale 61,060 14.9 Cowichan Valley 59,232 11.5 Surrey-Fleetwood 59,066 11.2 Saanich North and the Islands 56,492 6.3 Surrey-Green Timbers 58,816 10.7 Saanich South 51,661 -2.7 Surrey-Newton 58,340 9.8 Victoria-Swan Lake 51,569 -2.9 Surrey-Panorama 60,128 13.2 Oak Bay-Gordon Head 55,689 4.8 Surrey South 57,807 8.8 Victoria-Beacon Hill 54,707 3.0 Surrey-White Rock 58,527 10.2 Esquimalt-Metchosin 51,450 -3.1 Langford-Juan de Fuca 51,782 -2.5 Table 6: Lower Mainland – Fraser Valley

Deviation Electoral district Population (%) Langley 60,535 14.0

Fort Langley-Abbotsford 61,113 15.0 Executive summary Aldergrove-Abbotsford 59,203 11.5 Abbotsford Centre 59,330 11.7 Abbotsford-Mission 60,962 14.8 Chilliwack-Sumas 52,632 -0.9 Chilliwack-Kent 51,310 -3.4 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows 58,287 9.7 Maple Ridge-Mission 58,697 10.5

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | 9 Mandate

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Mandate

Mandate

Commission After every second provincial general election, a new electoral boundaries commission is appointed to propose changes to the provincial electoral boundaries.

Under the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, the British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission must consist of:

A judge or retired judge of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal who is nominated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council; A person who is not a member of the Legislative Assembly or an employee of the government and who is nominated by the Speaker of the Left to right: Keith Archer, Beverley Busson and Thomas Melnick Legislative Assembly, after consultation with (Chair). the Premier and the Leader of the Official Opposition; and The Chief Electoral Officer appointed under the Mandate Election Act. Our function is to make proposals to the Legislative Mandate Assembly as to the area, boundaries, and names One of these individuals must be appointed as Chair. of provincial electoral districts. If our deliberations dictate that the number of electoral districts should On May 9, 2014, our three-person, independent, be increased, the Electoral Boundaries Commission non-partisan electoral boundaries commission was Act allows us to make proposals for up to two appointed. Our commissioners are: additional electoral districts, to a maximum of 87. We cannot recommend fewer than 85 electoral Mr. Justice Thomas Melnick, Justice of the districts. The Legislative Assembly is responsible for Supreme Court of British Columbia (Chair) approving or amending our proposals before they Beverley Busson, O.B.C., former Commissioner are passed into law. of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Keith Archer, Ph.D., Chief Electoral Officer for Electoral Boundaries Commission Act the province of British Columbia In carrying out our mandate, we are guided by the requirements of the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act which sets out the process for reviewing the area, boundaries and names of electoral districts in British Columbia.

12 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Mandate

When developing our proposals, section 9(1) of the Table 8: Defined regions Electoral Boundaries Commission Act instructs us to Defined region Electoral districts within region be governed by the following: Cariboo-Thompson Cariboo North The principle of representation by population be Region Cariboo-Chilcotin achieved, recognizing the imperatives imposed Fraser-Nicola by geographical and demographic realities, the Kamloops-North Thompson legacy of our history and the need to balance Kamloops-South Thompson the community interests of the people of British Columbia-Kootenay Columbia River-Revelstoke Columbia; Region Kootenay East To achieve that principle, the commission Kootenay West be permitted to deviate from the provincial Nelson-Creston electoral quotient by no more than plus or North Region Nechako Lakes minus 25 percent; and, North Coast We may propose electoral districts with Peace River North population deviations exceeding +/- 25% where Peace River South we consider that very special circumstances Prince George-Mackenzie exist. Prince George-Valemount Skeena Stikine Representation by population Method of using population as the primary factor in determining electoral districts. Section 9(2) of the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act requires us to take into account the following additional factors when making our proposals for all Electoral quotient (the provincial average) Mandate The provincial population divided by the electoral districts: number of current electoral districts. Geographic and demographic considerations, including the sparsity, density or rate of Deviation growth of the population of any part of British Electoral district population above or below Columbia and the accessibility, size or physical the electoral quotient. configuration of any part of British Columbia; and, The availability of means of communication and As an exception to these principles, the Act defines transportation between various parts of British three regions of the province in which, for the Columbia. purpose of effective representation in the Legislative Assembly, the number of electoral districts may not be reduced from their current number. For this purpose we are permitted to exceed the +/- 25% population deviation rule.

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | 13 Mandate

The right to vote and population equality

The Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in The Court then went on to ask, 2 the Saskatchewan Reference in 1991 provides What are the conditions of effective considerable guidance to electoral boundaries representation? The first is relative parity commissions as to the standard for relative equality of voting power. A system which dilutes of voting power among citizens. Section 3 of the one citizen’s vote unduly as compared Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides with another citizen’s vote runs the risk of that all citizens have the right to vote in periodic providing inadequate representation to the elections, and the right to be a candidate for elective citizen whose vote is diluted…. The result will office. The question for the Court, in examining the be uneven and unfair representation implications of this right for electoral boundaries, (pp. 183-4). was whether the right to vote meant that citizens had the right to vote in electoral districts that were comprised of populations equal in size or whether However, the Court continued, equality of voting some variation from equality was permissible, and, power is not the only factor that affects effective if variation from equality was permissible, what was representation. First, this is the case because strict the limit of permissible variation. equality of voting power is not achievable, since there is a continual change to the electorate. In It is notable that Courts in the United States have addition, interpreted voting rights as requiring almost factors like geography, community no deviation from population equality among history, community interests and minority electoral districts. In the words of Professor John representation may need to be taken into Courtney, “the Supreme Court of Canada’s sole Mandate account to ensure that our legislative decision on electoral boundary readjustments (i.e., assemblies effectively represent the diversity the Saskatchewan Reference case) deliberately of our social mosaic (p. 184). eschewed strict American notions of voter equality. In its place the court advanced the notions of ‘relative equality of voting power,’ ‘better The Court did not directly take up the question in government,’ and ‘effective representation’” as the the Saskatchewan Reference of whether there are core principles used in boundary readjustment in absolute limits on variations in electoral district Canada. (Courtney, Commissioned Ridings, 2001, populations when taking into account these other pp. 151-2). factors of representation, such as geography, community history and the like. However, the The meaning of the right to vote was discussed in Court did review the limits as then outlined in the considerable detail by the Supreme Court in the Saskatchewan Electoral Boundaries Commission Saskatchewan Reference. Writing for the majority, Act. The Act provided for the creation of 66 electoral Madam Justice McLachlin stated, districts. Of these, 64 were urban and rural districts the purpose of the right to vote enshrined in in the southern half of the province, and two were s. 3 of the Charter is not equality of voting rural districts in the northern half of the province. power per se, but the right to “effective The 64 southern districts were required to have a representation”. Ours is a representative variation within +/- 25% of the provincial electoral democracy. Each citizen is entitled to be quotient, and the two northern districts could be as represented in government (p. 183). much as 50% below the electoral quotient.

2 Ref. re Electoral Boundaries Commission Act (Sask.) (1991), 81 D.L.R. (4th) 16 (S.C.C.).

14 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast are Comox Valley and mid-Vancouver Island a mix of urban, suburban and rural and remote communities. With a few notable exceptions they In recent years, the Comox Valley electoral district are not densely populated and share many of the has shared the same boundaries as the Comox accessibility challenges of other remote parts of Valley Regional District in a manner similar to British Columbia. Consistent with the message how the New Westminster electoral district received elsewhere in the province, much of the boundaries perfectly aligned with the City of New input from residents of this area recommended Westminster municipal boundaries. However, like little to no change. We were reminded of the New Westminster, the population of Comox Valley transportation challenges faced by residents on has now outgrown a single electoral district. At the Sunshine Coast, the islands east and north of 22% over the provincial average Comox Valley Vancouver Island, and the remote communities on is just within the +/- 25% population range but the north and western coasts of Vancouver Island. is projected to exceed it by 2017. Therefore, we They also emphasized the Malahat as a natural determined that we must address this issue now divide between districts in the south and the rest of and propose boundaries that provide more effective Vancouver Island. representation by reducing the population within this district. Most of the current electoral districts in this area are at or near the provincial average. The exceptions are The current Alberni-Pacific Rim electoral district is the rapidly growing Comox Valley, which is currently by far the smallest electoral district on Vancouver more than 22% above the provincial average, and Island by population. It is 18% under the provincial neighbouring Alberni-Pacific Rim at 18% below average and is projected to grow more slowly than the provincial average. This created the necessity the provincial average in the near future. to rebalance the population in this area in order to provide more effective representation for both of We conclude that to provide more effective these communities. We also propose changes in representation for both communities the boundaries the Nanaimo and Greater Victoria areas to respond between the two districts should be altered to to public input, rebalance populations and provide assign some of the population of Comox Valley to more effective representation. the other mid-island electoral district. While some of the public input from the Comox Valley requested We propose no changes to the electoral districts we not make any changes to the current electoral of Powell River-Sunshine Coast, North Island, district, it also emphasised that if we were to make Cowichan Valley, Saanich North and the Islands, changes, the communities of Courtenay and Comox

Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast Coast Sunshine the and Island – Vancouver Proposals Saanich South, and Victoria-Swan Lake. would be best served in the same electoral district. We propose an electoral district that includes the communities of Courtenay and Comox, as well as the rest of the Comox Valley Regional District north- west of the Comox Valley Regional District Electoral Area A and Area C boundary. We propose this electoral district be named Courtenay-Comox.

116 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

The remainder of the Comox Valley Regional Capital Region District, from Royston and Cumberland south, and including Hornby and Denman Islands, will be Vancouver Island south of the Malahat is made up included in a new mid-Island electoral district that of 13 municipalities and four unincorporated areas. we propose be named Mid Island-Pacific Rim. The highest rates of growth in the Capital Region are in Langford and the West Shore in the suburbs Nanaimo area of Greater Victoria. The populations of the existing electoral districts are relatively well balanced and Nanaimo and the surrounding areas are we were not convinced of a need to propose more experiencing moderate growth. The area includes considerable changes to this area. We propose Parksville, Qualicum, Nanaimo, and the Cowichan changes to the boundaries of the existing Victoria- Valley. These areas share ties and, with the exception Beacon Hill and Oak Bay-Gordon Head electoral of the Nanaimo electoral district, combine various districts to return the neighbourhood of Vic West communities in one electoral district. The changes to a Victoria electoral district and rebalance the we propose address the growing population in population between these two districts. The western this area and respond to requests to unite affiliated boundary of Victoria-Beacon Hill becomes the communities. Victoria/Esquimalt border and the eastern boundary follows Richmond Avenue to Fairfield Road and We propose a small change to the Parksville- along the east side of Ross Bay Cemetery to the Qualicum electoral district boundaries. We propose ocean. extending the northern boundary north-west to the Nanaimo Regional District Electoral Area G We also propose moving the District of Metchosin boundary north of Highway 19 in order to include to an electoral district that includes Colwood, View the area of Dashwood on the north-west side of Royal and Esquimalt and that this district be named the Little Qualicum River in the Parksville-Qualicum Esquimalt-Metchosin. This change will balance the electoral district. population across the area while providing room for continued growth in Langford. We propose the We propose to include Vancouver Island University current Juan de Fuca electoral district be renamed and the College Heights neighbourhood within the Langford-Juan de Fuca. City of Nanaimo south of Jingle Pot Road and west of Highway 19 in the Nanaimo electoral district. This change will place Vancouver Island University in the same electoral district as the majority of its staff and students. To balance the increase in population to the Nanaimo electoral district, we propose moving the southern boundary between Nanaimo and

Nanaimo-North Cowichan north from Fifth Street to Coast Sunshine the and Island – Vancouver Proposals Fourth Street.

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | 117 Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Table 15: Proposed electoral districts – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Deviation Area(sq Electoral district Population (%) km) Powell River-Sunshine 50,039 -5.8 21,007 Coast North Island 55,633 4.7 45,034 Courtenay-Comox 54,816 3.2 1,584 Mid Island-Pacific Rim 52,833 -0.5 14,098 Parksville-Qualicum 54,089 1.8 978 Nanaimo 55,998 5.4 455 Nanaimo-North 53,424 0.6 2,703 Cowichan Cowichan Valley 59,232 11.5 1,685 Saanich North and the 56,492 6.3 1,519 Islands Saanich South 51,661 -2.7 91 Victoria-Swan Lake 51,569 -2.9 18 Oak Bay-Gordon 55,689 4.8 330 Head Victoria-Beacon Hill 54,707 3.0 90 Esquimalt-Metchosin 51,450 -3.1 378 Langford-Juan de 51,782 -2.5 2,447 Fuca Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast Coast Sunshine the and Island – Vancouver Proposals

118 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast ¯ ¯ 8 Central 9 ¯ Saanich

Highlands Saanich Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast 15 10

Langford View Royal 11 12 Colwood Victoria Esquimalt Oak Bay Metchosin 14 13

Port Hardy

Port McNeill Alert Port Bay Alice 1

Sayward

Zeballos Tahsis Campbell River Powell Gold River River

3 Comox Courtenay Cumberland

Sechelt Electoral Districts Qualicum Beach Gibsons Port Parksville 1. Powell River-Sunshine Coast Alberni 2. North Island Tofino 5 6 4 Nanaimo 3. Courtenay-Comox Ucluelet 4. Mid Island-Pacific Rim 7 Ladysmith

5. Parksville-Qualicum North Coast Sunshine the and Island – Vancouver Proposals Lake Cowichan 6. Nanaimo Cowichan Duncan 7. Nanaimo-North Cowichan 8 Sidney 8. Cowichan Valley 9. Saanich North and the Islands 15 SEE INSET 10. Saanich South 11. Victoria-Swan Lake

12. Oak Bay-Gordon Head Washington 13. Victoria-Beacon Hill 14. Esquimalt-Metchosin 1:2,400,000 0 25 50 100

15. Langford-Juan de Fuca (km)

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | 119 Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Powell River-Sunshine Coast

Cariboo-Chilcotin Electoral District ¯

Cariboo Regional District Big Creek Provincial Chilko Taseko Park Lake Lakes K Mount Waddington i n Regional District er gc v Ts'il?os o i m R Provincial

e n

i Park R l H k

i v o n m

e North Island a

r a r t Electoral District F h k

o R iv e r Kingcome Inlet ! Hamalco 1 r e Bishop River v i R Provincial Fraser-Nicola Strathcona te Park a S g Electoral District

r Regional District out h

e v

d r Gilford fo f Powell River-Sunshine Coast a

t Upper Island S Electoral District Lillooet Provincial Inlet r night e Park K iv Orford Bay R West a 4 Tob Cracroft Squamish-Lillooet Bute Regional District Island Inlet Klahoose 1 Port Neville Harwicke Joh ! nstone Island Thurlow Clendinning Strait ! Toba Provincial East Inlet Park West Thurlow I. Thurlow I. !Stuart Island West Vancouver-Sea to Sky Sonora I. Sayward Electoral District Powell River 19 Regional District À¿ West East E Redonda l Redonda a Callaghan Read Island h Lake Island o I. R Provincial iv Park er Strathcona Refuge Cove Regional District ! Cortes I. Desolation Powell Lake Sound S Provincial McCalls Sechelt q Goat I. u Park nding Lands a North Island Campbell La m ! 15 i s Electoral District !Lund h River Hernando Inland Lake R

I. Provincial i

Park e r Sliammon 1 Jervis Inlet Harwood Powell Tantalus 28 Sunshine Coast 19 Island Provincial À¿ À¿ River Regional District 2 Saltery Bay Park Courtenay-Comox À¿101 ! ! Electoral District S Lang Bay tr a Strathcona it Nelson Provincial Courtenay o Island Spipiyus Gold f !Gilles Bay Park Comox Provincial G Park River eo Texada M Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast Coast Sunshine the and Island – Vancouver Proposals r a ! 19A gi la Tetrahedron À¿ a Island sp Madeira Park i ProvincialPark Cumberland n a 101 S À¿ Port Mellon t ! r Halfmoon Bay Comox Valley a ! i Gambier Regional District Lasqueti t Sechelt Island Island À¿1 Parksville-Qualicum Mid Island-Pacific Rim Gibsons Bowen Electoral District Island Electoral District Parksville À¿4 Nanaimo Electoral District Port Alberni-Clayoquot Alberni Nanaimo Nanaimo Regional District Regional District 1 1:1,225,000 À¿

0 10 20 40 Nanaimo-North Cowichan Electoral District (km)

120 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

North Island t l c r i l r r e e t e v s v i i i w R D

R l o l t l a P t n e s n i c a t w o i t i o o r o t c g t P i c c e r C i y l s

t d r R i i t e x s t l o e i n h l c s D o o i i t

n D a a l

b i r C l c D V l i m t i

r a r l h r a a o x s r o t a e a s n i s n o s y C C d n o o i o b n o e 0 i t D

r t e a n o m iv e t D

R c i g 2 t e u o r l c a i o m k B l l g h l y e

h u r o e

t C a t S u s a n e R s

l a I a x - C r a t B I a n d R

m C r e d r A n E o

o c o o n

y C t t a i i e t

H e a S r a r g e l m t v c t o s R i e B r I o e

s R C x l i R u t o S E T C

E o o l - D a i l a m

N d d r C y r l r a k e o I e n n d o a L C e a a a a n w r l l n H u s s o o o I I e l S E Q t t l P t t r c S c e o u e i u l r b o t q E s o p i r C y D k e

a r w m l l v a o a C l a i 9 P n a - r

n e i l d o 1 l u o R C

c t a n n i

i t

a h g k r

e T a k e l

v t e u r

r i

s e

R n c

t I L a

a b

B i

n l r u i l P k a i n l v ) K t

e s A l o h d m S a r t W s 8 r i u P d 2

t a o . e n c k c n

i S

n e i R c d m (

v w t i r o i o a n

c e t o s d n t y

t i

w l n a T r s R

g r

l i p n a

o c

a P n t s n r i D I u c

i c s

I m r i a i

h o t d r t f o t D H a

S i d h

u s a h l n

i a g c

e i

a B o T t i a W D

n n S

m g t l t o P

i K e o - e n r a g R l c k d r u d r e e l g n o I o a n R e v n t o P M i k i a

l l r c a

G e R a L s e

v l I l i t n

n c E f R d e d i r o i n o v t

l h o a

c l d

M l r c e n a n s S P i r

a m l C M

t r i c s h

I t c s t s

a e k i o r l a n d s W u a M e P k h q

l l D i s a n

y a u s a L

i w T Y s

w s o s o n c t h

H i o a t v s h d W e t o r a i d k o W c s z o r t h I s n p t i r i k t n t t r a o P i o c k a t o l t N i l s l t s o t H r s p t

K s s l e c c a I a t r

y I i

i N s s t a k o r

o e a

i m a E e D t l

h o c C l B D n a s C

l l

i A

c l

l u

N n o l l

l a I a D u c u a h

a t r 9 r t l t h n t

r N 1 t r A a b n o o n i

i t u a n o e r e

g o k o s c o t C i r i e N S Z

S e m a g

R l l y P e l

e l E

i R S K a e i - e t r t t h t o n c s o N l i i y o s v P c t a r h u o r t h r a i a r d M q r P T o t C a 9 u e t S P n 1 y r e c H e i K o l u s 0 t P r o Q A 3 e e l n a v i l n i k s u I r R t a n s P a

t d u r n i o a

c a

e t i R i u Q t l P g r r

o t n c t n a s e i

g i s a b k i v r o v d r o i D h o

e d C

r a o d l a

R b a r P

l n a H B M W n a o

l t o s H i I n g 1

u e e o R p M o H r r d u y g d k e a d n y d e d r o e r d n t a l g a t n t r m e d l h t n a n e n t l b i i t a d r n r a o d P a c n n n r l e o t f r d a s i

b a o d l a n t n d e r e l e l I n s l n a l t a a d s a u d o e c n a d s e

I d n i l a a s a n h i e b s I o d t o a

W S e c i L I r e l n h y q I r a M n i s

n l a p H v a n K s l i o s l I R s B l u H i a h l l e p u s a a p r S I a n c y s e n l I R e s l s l i p I y c e S R l e S T I f t G I s a s n s v O a a I T O e g I d d I B i d e N d k o l o d e c C o e l t n g l e o n i r e s n s n J n i s f t d i r p r d P t I B a l u a i a i n o a r a i a o k l e n l B n s l s l r r l d b a e G l n o s c s a c s a t a s I o s I a t S I u n a l I a l I G u G S w P s G r c s

y o a h C S I I D i l t o r C s w Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast Coast Sunshine the and Island – Vancouver Proposals t I A t

H s

h d i d

R l

d r D R m

t n

E o

a m

c l r a i t y H Is N ve r c i a d

i l t R r

a u n t s r A n s i e A a i

t c x o 9 l t

s a ) D c D 1 o

y c

s M

l h i I l t

O k m r a

m ( t a

n d t r

h o

r 0 s R o c t t i i i y

S C k r o r g e - y

D t

t l r e

l o s

k y

l o i R e c a

l Y l P a a D d N V l e

g r n l l e n x e n a o r e a o

e E t l t n a

l b

i i e r s c o m I r i

b p o v u e g T

u l i C o J e m E R R y C

a w H C d an 0 sl 3 d I lan In

1 r e

v 0 5 i 1 0

0 R ,

0 r

e 0

s 6

y N S E T

I O 1 : 1 0

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | 121 Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Courtenay-Comox t s l a

l k n A y r

d o o a b

n w t P T n i C l y

l s

a r l a r t l i

E y e e o e k s c f I r

i o n H f n c H S a i r i

o R t P v n t l h e A e s N o a s i r I i G 9

m P n 1 D p n c

n t i u r l u v a a S c o o k - r r s r r P E M o a y e t P e l l v c t a i i e c i l n g r R r

n c o e E t l l i l v l

s d v i i i R e F o R D r

g l l w P n

l n i a d a o e g m n n i

w g P o m i

y t

a o o R l n g w L P

H s i e e

I x c R d o i D

n f

a m i l s t r x t Is o i

o C c D i

r y m - P a c t

a l a o r y d s

i e n l C k d

- e a n D

R c t o

t uc y l

s l

y e

r B

a x

a a

F r a s e r

a d u E l r B i n o nd d

a i g

l o o s d

I e r t t

R t

m S

M C

o y y

l r c

w c

e H l i o d e r

e l u e

l o t

l G C

w s e a f o

d i

R k L E

n D o c

c C e

d x

R r o n

y n

k A o A

a i M

o y

9 e

l i r l

a m t

t V g 1

x o s

S o e

y m R

o o C d R y

n a d

a R n

l A

n r e

l r a

e n

d b R d

r t s

m b u y

u C S E T o

m 9 o R 9 N 1 I

u 1 C

y E w S d H d n n t

a m c

e l i a i s y l

I r t e l R t l r l i

c l s i

r i v a c

e e r i D r V

v t

i h b l i e s R x a c i c o n M m a

m a D o m

t u i e u l l P o g c o - a B i

s C C e r

T r d r d R t k a e o n n s t e g v a i a l i c l e o D s e r A s R

t I l I l

C a r E a 1

d r

h y

r i e t

k w a

t r o

c H " M t S s

o d C

a "

c r

y n l a e

N l

e s I v l y O B

nd i e

E a R

l l

In l

e a

e x

x o

o m

o n r y C

A e m

iv k u 9

a k e o P P R 9 1 L C

r 1 a e t t n t s o o c u

y i

c r O q h t o t s i a y a r D l t l

S C r a - t r i c i n e n o r i v g e i - C o m x b e l R R A

l D i s l l e b t o r a t p c i y 9 r e t m l 1 l s l e c i a a o u r t e n a y D E V

r l C

e x

a v i o

n R o

r o

e n g t

s C

e y o

R O t g n i h s Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast Coast Sunshine the and Island – Vancouver Proposals a t k c W i r

r a a a t t n s n P i

M ) o l o D c a

c l i h k m h t ( c a t a n n 2 r a i o 1 t r i v S t g o S e r R P r t e c v i i r a R t

n s l i l o k e D c

r b l h a a t p a n P a n

m r l o o 6 t a i a c S i g C t h c e t c R n i a i r r d v t t n o s S r i a l P D s

3 I l e

l a t h t r 0 t a k e u r 0 o L t 0 B a m o , r s c 5 N n e i 7 l p e 2 u a k e : E 1 0 U Q L

122 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Mid Island-Pacific Rim

t t c i r t s i D

l a r o t c e l n E o d c

i m

b r R

t ) t r

c y e l l a V

n a h c i w o u C u e a 0 t c c h u i i v o s c 9 t B 0 i i i n g c r

k m Y t i F l i t r 1 0 ( c t t R

. D e , i g

a c s l

s l c W l d r i 0 e i l i 5 i w l g a l u t r r i 4 N R a 7 D t a n d t w o D

e o t t

i s

v n 8 o l L i h s e l i s e - Q : p s w t s i n o C c c a t r i a i s a i e 1

a i D m o k a k e D a f l e n r e

i g e v

l P C r l o s D h d l L r i o w u r a u n

e i t a t o u a n l a o o e v q n C J R r

" e g r A

c P c s a F S - n a s t C

a F l e R y o o e a e o

" r k

d c N s l t i R T a I L r i r n t N o a g i E c r C E r a - t o t d a e e e h f P r o l m c o n S d s R R i s g P

h A a a e u E S N l l n m x n c D c t I k s ree F

o i

C y

i I

w e u c a a E l a l e i a T h p m l E S d L a r e S i a l u n - r t R a B a E k

u r s o n a o i o n n V e o t e S

Q r D d

a N o v

n c o R 0 i N l

H a e n g t h 2

a n g t l u R h S

w o c E l h i h i i o l h e i b s t s r e w g u k a u a o r e o n f w o a Y C R e h r S W o W P n R

e l a P s n a r a B a i y

b w 0 l

b o 1 m r t d

a T n c t

e e r t i

B o n

n c

v a c n v i i r E W u i

a r

r C 9 o R r l a k e q o o t r S

t 1 o

s s L o A y n s

P I H H i

a t i i

y 9 a l m N D i n a D I

1 B l i

a a k e l t n C i

a y n

a L n - E a n n a

n N d r a 0 y

o n n

N E o i F n r i a a g m g e a S B F t e

l n b e i c l t R s y n

i e R I

r x r A n e o

l r i D

t r

l e o

n s

i v a i e

o P U m R

V t D

s a

x w a y

C a o

n n

A o

d a o l R m K a i n o g y n a e C e e l " l l n R t r A a o r " s e d V

r l a b x o e e a k e o d e r C i m L n y f A m a t

e u o

w o m C H C e

x H a k e a t p r i x s o S L c B l a k e i

o m t r i c

r i E L m a l t m

a k e R r

o t o s L

i c C n C i -

e f D

t y l c a k e l D i s C c a y i a a a n L r r a t e e n P k t l e c r l s o e r i t m a a t i O D P r V G c

t o r a c

R l l

i u e x f c a l l a n d - P c i f R m i i o o n a n f E i o o m C a c i l e c c i t o a P g 4 a C E P e N R i d I s M t t o c u i r q t d y o s e e a k e i y l n t L a D

t y l

n l a k e u C t

e w a - L i B H A n e K

d n l o an r i Isl

y e g e w T b e u l H A R E l k A 9 r

k m c y d a i 1 r S a P n a R a

a R

U l B

n r P

N c a

c e

l I i v

n g o

f i i

r W t a e i

v g n c

i c N a

i t h

c g

r a

v l t n c l t e S

i n P

o a

a i

r L r w a d

r t e v

P B t m n s i o o S h s e r s D

c d

y i

l e

P l

n r

w g t a n i a a l E a a n

e H i v s r I o t g M i s t S r g c o e o i e r k r R

n t a y o s i G r i f t P f d

m w D e i c

n o o l i t a v a H i r a T

l n i t

s a i n a R

I n r s o

N t r i i

g d e

l d R

A e h

c b r l u h l R o C 9 B a

1 A G r T o s t d e E c n

e k a

o e l l

l e

s r

E C I

F h

c m N

A i

I n d e 4

d t n e R

R r

a F i h l y

c A r i

s ng w c t

I i

H f n

g i d a

s n o

g i h a c

e t t l o

s Coast Sunshine the and Island – Vancouver Proposals f a

r I

L D

a o

x l r P m R

o - i t

a G m m R c t m r d t y R i o

u d

u c r o c C n a

i n i t t c

c c i a a r r

s n l i l l t c t i

f s l

a a I i s e e s l s i D

l I a r i y u u

l e r D

r t

u E

a w v D Q n s a d a l i

r u P l H 9 Q

P n a l e

o -

o 1 o l e

a c M t l d R

r e s a r i F P r i d

d o n C c t t n v a o n c n e a a d i d c

i l t l s V R t v a s R

u e k l I l c c E

o n l l q y i

r r r o e e r s s y E

e e P x a l I t w l e 4

nt h

l s w k

i o i d P t H E c R a H d u D o

n V

M i A a

e m L o d rd l d 9 k

x S t

o A a r

n n t M y 1 o e c

n i a

v a

C o

l i l y d

r w

o m - i o k

s R o

o H I I y s g n P i N

C i

e a

m m

a d

y D

R n

n u

l r n l c a

s l

r l i

l e

a e

l n l

a a

l n a b

k r

F l e l o

Q o r

t n N m t o

C i

b i I a u L A m g P

o u l

o m A

l e n a r r i

e H d c

a " a

b a u R d

n n a

m u u i N C C v Q

e r

l d

R P

n t

a i c 9 r B a y l i s

R d o C L 1

d R en 2015 Britishsd Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report | 123 ar M Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast

Parksville-Qualicum d r l A o o o t

t f a t c r r c s i d m i T r m e a i

o d R r t i t o h t s

a R E i t C a

s n

i D u

a k e y e

e n a S l l

R a D n L a a i

N E B g N

d h N I s

n d

R i

g n d t r R

d u

o L

f e o

s r R

m e n

u h

m t

S a t u

B r i r c k y a r d

R d t s o i m D i

l 9

r d M o 1 a s t a M r c G i r r R

R d c m D y n r i w s a u

r R u H R o t r t d N c n d a i a l c s s n c l I i I la e l a Is D

r E

u l ve o o u a Q o -

r c n m m a i e o i V l a t

A l A n y a r i Pk n c 9 e h aimo v n n 1 a e t a y

l u N s

d o w

S N

R L d e w i H s

d N y

r d

R t d k

n R

a n n P

e s

s a P o o

n d l

g I

m a k e m

l u

a n g i i u L

9 A a

B o 1

B n EE INSET a D

S N o m t i c d a i

R r f n

t t o o s a s

i s g t N m D a i r

l i

a a o

a d

n P B R

n C a

o t n N i e o

c g

e m i u r

R o t h D e s s i l l n D i

u l v a S z - r r t o e t e n s v c a i o e t l o R L R c I

i n E l r l a t

r o s e N D i m D w

n i

i r l a o h a n p D P n

l a y o

o s N i

d a D

g 9 n

B i

e 1

R w

r i s

a a d o

d F n o a a a x

l "

n E s e " I a T a

h e N r a

d A i n

d o a e

l m

d i s

I a e an

J N y w

a H i t r i c t

g d c

r n i r la o r s

e I

t e

v d s

i i R

R D "

l D i s g

l n

l i F

l o g

" a g

t o L e

n i

y a A

w a i t o a

i l e - Q u a c m i e 9 B r o d n e

t o r a r t g

P 1

n u W a S

e A a N s v

R q h l

s s c e o t l e c I i a l c L l m i E w i i a r k r o a t v P n s s

a r

e D h

v N r k

i t

a R

y a

n o

k r P a a

e N

m o

h -

t e

s i

r l

g c o

e n C E e

s l

m l i h

E a a

c F n n e a r N

9 1

Proposals – Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast Coast Sunshine the and Island – Vancouver Proposals

h A

n o

t f B

r y m

i w

t u H ) R

c c i i c

i k m r i l ( t f n i a r s 8 i c e u a

b D y l Q l P -

w A a r d H o n t

y d a l n c d w s a e . l I l o

s H R I o E

d d m i

w d n u

h n

c M

a i 4 s

a t t l

a a c c l

i i y s n u

D r r

I I

Q t t

l o

l o t s s i t

L m

i i i

a A a r " G e a "

n m

D D

V i a

N l l a x 2 a a 0 n o n n a 0 o o m 0 N i i

, 4 o g g

e e

3 n c a R

d r o R R C 2

: A

1 0

9 1

124 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Next steps

2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report Next steps

Next steps

We submit this report containing our preliminary We will then consider all of the input received and proposals to the Speaker of the Legislative produce a report of our final proposals. Our final Assembly on March 26, 2015. We encourage British report must be submitted to the Speaker of the Columbians to review these proposals and to Legislative Assembly within six months of the release advise the commission about how these proposed of this report – by September 25, 2015. electoral districts enable, or do not enable, effective representation within the province. There are four The proposals contained in our final report are only ways for you to provide this feedback. recommendations. The final decision regarding adoption of our proposals lies with the Members of Beginning in April we will hold public hearings to the Legislative Assembly. Once electoral boundaries facilitate presentations by any person respecting are officially adopted by the Legislative Assembly our proposals. If you or your organization would they will come into force at the time of the next like to make a presentation, you can register on a general election and will apply to the anticipated first-come, first-served basis at the hearings. Check 2017 and 2021 provincial general elections. our website (www.bc-ebc.ca) for the latest public hearings schedule and location details.

You may also express your views on our preliminary proposals in writing:

through our website: www.bc-ebc.ca

Next steps by email: [email protected] by mail PO Box 9275 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9J6

Your input must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26, 2015 to be considered.

Following the public hearings and the close of the public input period, the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act requires us to give MLAs an opportunity to make submissions to us. This will take place on May 27 immediately after the close of the public input period. The public is welcome to attend to observe this hearing.

136 | 2015 British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission – Preliminary Report