Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 three Liberal MLAs are proposing a new Kelowna Centre Riding and a fourth MLA in time for the next provincial election.

害羞草研究所淭he numbers in the Central Okanagan definitely warrant a fourth riding,害羞草研究所� said Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick. 害羞草研究所淚f you look at the goal of B.C. Electoral Boundary Commission (BCEBC) on how many people should roughly be in a riding, we are over that with three ridings.害羞草研究所�

Letnick added with a population of more than 225,000 currently and the anticipated growth rate over the next two terms of government, which in the mandate of the BCEBC, an additional MLA in the Central Okanagan is arguably warranted.

害羞草研究所淎t the end of the eight years let害羞草研究所檚 try to give everyone in the ridings the same access to their MLAs, and try to come up with the same population numbers in each riding.害羞草研究所�

Letnick said that with slower growth in the Kelowna-Mission riding, compared to Westside-Kelowna, Kelowna-Lake Country, and the new proposed riding, it would need to start with a larger population number.

害羞草研究所淭he other three ridings will start with a small number because they害羞草研究所檙e growing at a faster rate,害羞草研究所� explained Letnick. 害羞草研究所淎t the end of the eight years they should be pretty close, and they are. They害羞草研究所檙e at about 70,000 to 72,000 people in each of the four ridings.害羞草研究所�

The new riding would basically be in the center of Kelowna, roughly covering from W.A.C. Bennett Bridge east to Highway 33, and include part of Mission north to near McKinley Landing.

害羞草研究所淲est Kelowna would (just) be West Kelowna,害羞草研究所� added Letnick. 害羞草研究所淪o no more downtown, Glenmore, Pandosy area in the West Kelowna riding, it would go to the new riding. A small part of the Mission would go there as well. Kelowna-Lake Country, because it abuts the new riding, would take the balance.害羞草研究所�

Letnick added that the proposed names for the ridings are Kelowna-South, Kelowna-Centre, Kelowna-North, and West Kelowna.

害羞草研究所淲e invite feedback from the public or directly to the boundary commission,害羞草研究所� said Letnick. 害羞草研究所淥ur hope is that we害羞草研究所檝e come up with a logical solution and people who present to the boundary commission will be supporting that solution. Or they can present something else. They are certainly not bound by our solution.害羞草研究所�

The proposal Letnick and MLAs Renee Merrifield and Ben Stewart have come up with will be going up on their respective Facebook pages. They are also presenting it to Kelowna community leaders and the BCEBC.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 incumbent on us as elected representatives to come up with a solution that we can put out there as a trial balloon for people to say 害羞草研究所榶es, that makes sense or they pop the balloon and have their own suggestion for the boundary commission.害羞草研究所�

The BCEBC will visit Kelowna and eight other municipalities between April 4 and 8, seeking input from residents regarding ongoing electoral boundaries review, which is required after every two provincial elections. The Kelowna date is .

Read More: 害羞草研究所楤e part of the process害羞草研究所�: B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission to hold public meetings

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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