OTTAWA – Saskatchewan is one step closer to having new electoral boundaries for the next federal election.
The federal electoral map report for Saskatchewan has been tabled in the House of Commons.
Under the proposed changes, Saskatoon will go from four urban-rural mixed ridings to three urban ridings while Martensville, Warman, Humboldt and Rosetown would be incorporated into a separate riding.
Regina will have two urban ridings and one blended rural-urban riding.
“The belief that people in Saskatoon and Regina are just one step removed from the farm may have been true at one point, but it no longer describes the reality of the cities,” said the report, authored by the Honourable Ronald C. Mills, chair of the three-member commission.
“Residents who move from other parts of the country or the world have little understanding of Saskatchewan’s rural way of life. Perhaps it would be better if they did, but the mandate of the Commission is to reflect the province’s reality, not to promote a particular vision.”
It was not a unanimous conclusion.
Commission member David Marit, the current president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, strongly rejected the strictly urban ridings.
“I felt that we could have adjusted some of the ridings around Regina and Saskatoon to reflect a more urban lens,” Marit wrote in his dissent.
“This would have given Saskatoon two urban ridings and three ridings with an urban-rural blend. The overall number of seats in the city of Saskatoon would not have been reduced.”
“If the committee approves the proposed boundary changes, I believe there will be a negative impact not only on our communities, but also on the province as a whole. This is not the time to change the boundaries so dramatically.”
Marit also stated given the projected growth in population in the province, the boundaries will have to be redrawn back to an urban-rural mix in 10 years.
“If this increase comes to pass, we will have to go back to the blended rural-urban ridings to bring fairness in terms of geographic size and fair representation to Regina and Saskatoon.”
Mills, along with the third member of the commission, Dr. John C. Courtney, rejected that argument.
“There is significant public support for dedicated urban ridings. The support, while widespread throughout the province, is mainly centered in Saskatoon and Regina.”
There have been some changes made to the original proposed boundaries in Saskatoon.
The southern boundary of the new Saskatoon – University riding (originally called Saskatoon Centre-University) has been extended along 8th St. to recognize Nutana’s community of interest.
Riversdale, centraal Saskatoon, Westmount, Mount Royal and the South Industrial area were taken out of Saskatoon – University and placed in the new Saskatoon – West riding.
To keep the balance, subdivisions to the west of the South Saskatchewan River, north of 42nd St. and east of Warman Rd. were moved from Saskatoon – West to Saskatoon – University.
The report now goes to a parliamentary committee for study.
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