Report of The 2015 Newfoundland and Labrador Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission Hon. Robert P. Stack, Chairperson Shawn Skinner, Deputy Chairperson Bernard Coffey, QC Allan Goulding Bill Matthews June 2015 Report of The 2015 Newfoundland and Labrador Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission Commission Members Honourable Robert P. Stack, Chairperson Shawn Skinner, Deputy Chairperson Bernard Coffey, QC Allan Goulding Bill Matthews Submitted to: The Honourable Darin King Minister of Justice and Public Safety for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador June 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 Report ............................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations ......................................................................................... 1 3.0 The Commission ............................................................................................................ 1 4.0 Application of the Act ...................................................................................................... 2 5.0 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 3 5.1 Approach Adopted by the Commission ............................................................... 3 5.2 Guiding Principles ............................................................................................... 4 5.2.1 For proposed district boundaries ............................................................. 4 5.2.2 For proposed district names .................................................................... 8 6.0 Public Engagement ........................................................................................................ 9 7.0 Initial Proposal – Prior to the Public Sittings ..................................................................10 7.1 Torngat Mountains .............................................................................................10 7.2 Lake Melville ......................................................................................................11 7.3 Labrador West ...................................................................................................11 7.4 Cartwright – L'Anse au Clair ...............................................................................11 7.5 St. Barbe – White Bay ........................................................................................12 7.6 Gros Morne ........................................................................................................12 7.7 Humber North ....................................................................................................13 7.8 Corner Brook .....................................................................................................13 7.9 Humber South – St. George's ............................................................................14 7.10 Stephenville – Port au Port ................................................................................14 7.11 Burgeo – La Poile ..............................................................................................15 7.12 Fortune Bay – Cape La Hune.............................................................................15 7.13 Burin – Grand Bank ...........................................................................................16 7.14 Placentia West – Bellevue .................................................................................16 7.15 Terra Nova .........................................................................................................17 7.16 Bonavista ...........................................................................................................17 7.17 Gander ...............................................................................................................18 7.18 Fogo – Cape Freels ...........................................................................................18 7.19 Lewisporte – Twillingate .....................................................................................19 7.20 Grand Falls-Windsor ..........................................................................................19 7.21 Exploits ..............................................................................................................19 7.22 Baie Verte – Green Bay .....................................................................................20 7.23 Placentia – St. Mary's ........................................................................................20 7.24 Ferryland ...........................................................................................................21 7.25 Waterford Valley ................................................................................................21 TABLE OF CONTENTS i Page 7.26 St. John's Centre ...............................................................................................21 7.27 St. John's East – Quidi Vidi ................................................................................22 7.28 Virginia Waters – Pleasantville ...........................................................................22 7.29 Pippy Park .........................................................................................................23 7.30 Mount Scio .........................................................................................................23 7.31 St. John's West ..................................................................................................24 7.32 Mount Pearl North ..............................................................................................24 7.33 Mount Pearl – Southlands ..................................................................................25 7.34 Cape St. Francis ................................................................................................26 7.35 Portugal Cove – Bell Island ................................................................................26 7.36 Topsail – Paradise .............................................................................................27 7.37 Conception Bay South .......................................................................................27 7.38 Harbour Main .....................................................................................................28 7.39 Harbour Grace – Port de Grave .........................................................................28 7.40 Trinity – Carbonear ............................................................................................29 8.0 Notice of Proposal and Public Engagement ...................................................................29 8.1 Advertisement of Notice .....................................................................................29 8.2 Public Sittings ....................................................................................................30 8.3 Skype Sessions .................................................................................................30 8.4 Other Methods ...................................................................................................30 9.0 Representations and Submissions from the Public ........................................................30 9.1 Level of Engagement .........................................................................................31 9.2 Common Themes ..............................................................................................32 9.2.1 The Act ...................................................................................................32 9.2.2 The Commission’s Procedures ...............................................................33 9.2.3 Guiding Principles for the Proposal .........................................................34 9.2.4 Specific Boundary or Community Concerns ...........................................35 9.2.4.1 The Northern Peninsula ...........................................................35 9.2.4.2 Bay of Islands, Corner Brook and the Southwest Coast ...........36 9.2.4.3 The Burin Peninsula .................................................................36 9.2.4.4 The Eastport Peninsula and Clarenville ...................................37 9.2.4.5 Grand Falls-Windsor, Buchans and Badger .............................37 9.2.4.6 The Bay de Verde Peninsula....................................................38 9.2.4.7 The Northeast Avalon ..............................................................38 9.2.5 District Names ........................................................................................38 10.0 Commission Consideration of Representations .............................................................38 10.1 The Quotient and Special Geographic Considerations .......................................39 ii 2015 ELECTORAL DISTRICTS BOUNDARIES COMMISSION Page 10.2 Mixed Rural and Urban Areas ............................................................................39 10.3 Bay of Islands, Corner Brook and the Southwest Coast .....................................40 10.3.1 St. George’s – Grand Lake .....................................................................40 10.3.2 Corner Brook ..........................................................................................40 10.3.3 Humber – Bay of Islands ........................................................................41