Y U K O N ELECTORALELECTORAL DISTRICT DISTRICT BOUNDARIES BOUNDARIES COMMISSION COMMISSION F INAL REPORT FINAL REPORT APRIL 2018 APRIL 2018 Yukon Electoral District Commission de délimitation des Boundaries Commission circonscriptions électorales du Yukon AprilApril 20,19, 20182018 Honourable Nils ClarkeClarke Speaker ofof thethe Legislative Assembly Yukon Legislative Assembly Whitehorse, YukonYukon Dear Mr.Mr. Speaker:Speaker: We are pleased to submit the final report of the Electoral District Boundaries Commission. The report sets out the proposals for the boundaries, number, and names of electoral districts in Yukon, and includes our reasons for the proposals. Proposals are based on all considerations prescribed by the Elections Act (the Act). Our final report is submitted in accordance with section 417 of the Act for tabling in the Legislative Assembly. This final report considers written submissions and input received at public hearings. The Commission’s term ends with the submission of this final report. On behalf of all Commission Members, I extend our gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of Yukon through this process. The Honourable Mr. Justice R.S. Veale Commission Chair Darren Parsons Jonas Smith Anne Tayler Lori McKee Member Member Member Member/ Chief Electoral Officer Box ● C.P. 2703 (A-9) Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 Phone● téléphone (867) 456-6730 ● 1-855-967-8588 toll free/sans frais Fax ● Télécopieur (867) 393-6977 e-mail ● courriel [email protected] website ● site Web www.yukonboundaries.ca www.facebook.com/yukonboundaries @yukonboundaries Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... 1 Mandate ................................................................................................................................. 1 Guiding Principles .................................................................................................................. 2 Commission Deliberation Process.......................................................................................... 2 Summary of Significant Proposed Changes ........................................................................... 4 Next Steps.............................................................................................................................. 6 Part One: Development Process for Proposals .......................................................................... 7 Commission Members and Statutory Mandate ....................................................................... 7 Direction and Resources ........................................................................................................ 8 Relevant Considerations ........................................................................................................ 8 Guiding Principles .................................................................................................................. 9 Part Two: Preparation of the Interim Report ..............................................................................10 Review of Existing Electoral Districts.....................................................................................10 Interim Report........................................................................................................................10 Public Consultation and Engagement....................................................................................12 Responses to the Interim Report ...........................................................................................14 Public Presentations and Comments.....................................................................................14 Carcross – Marsh Lake – Mount Lorne – Tagish – Teslin......................................................14 Whitehorse – Whistle Bend ...................................................................................................15 Carmacks – Faro – Mayo – Pelly Crossing............................................................................16 Ross River – Watson Lake ....................................................................................................17 Part Three: Preparation of the Final Report...............................................................................18 Deliberations of Past Electoral District Boundaries Commissions..........................................18 Legal Requirements Prescribed by the Elections Act.............................................................19 Judicial Decisions Relating to Redistribution..........................................................................19 Projections of Population Growth and Areas of Future Development.....................................21 Demographic and Economic Trends......................................................................................22 Developing a Quotient (Average Elector Population) .............................................................23 Application of the Quotient.....................................................................................................23 Elector Population Projections and Variances....................................................................... 25 Elector Population Density .................................................................................................... 26 Proposed Electoral Districts...................................................................................................27 Final Proposals......................................................................................................................28 Providing reasonable and effective representation for electors in Pelly-Nisutlin .................28 Impact of adding one rural electoral district........................................................................31 Unprecedented growth projected for Whistle Bend ............................................................32 Increased population growth in the existing electoral district of Mount Lorne- Southern Lakes/Southern Lakes region.............................................................................................33 Distinct interests of rural and urban electors ......................................................................34 Looking Ahead ......................................................................................................................35 Part Four: Final Proposals........................................................................................................37 Proposed Electoral Districts With Changes to Existing Boundaries .......................................37 Carcross-Tagish-Teslin......................................................................................................38 Carmacks-Faro-Ross River................................................................................................40 Copperbelt North................................................................................................................42 Copperbelt South...............................................................................................................44 Klondike.............................................................................................................................46 Lake Laberge.....................................................................................................................48 Mayo-Pelly .........................................................................................................................50 Mount Lorne-Marsh Lake ...................................................................................................52 Porter Creek ......................................................................................................................54 Takhini-Kopper King ..........................................................................................................56 Whistle Bend......................................................................................................................58 Whitehorse North...............................................................................................................60 Whitehorse West................................................................................................................62 Proposed Electoral Districts With No Change to Existing Boundaries.................................. 65 Kluane ...............................................................................................................................66 Mountainview.....................................................................................................................68 Riverdale North..................................................................................................................70 Riverdale South .................................................................................................................72 Vuntut Gwitchin..................................................................................................................74 Watson Lake......................................................................................................................76 Whitehorse Centre .............................................................................................................78 Proposed Electoral District Map of Yukon........................................................................