In October 2021, the provincial government struck an Electoral Boundaries Commission to review electoral district boundaries and make recommendations with the goal of ensuring that the weight of all British Columbians vote is equal. Among the boundary realignments the Commission proposed adding six new electoral districts, expanding the Legislative Assembly from 87-93 seats.
The Commission looks at population and geography, as well as other factors such as communications and transportation.
In October 2022, the Commission published its preliminary report and will begin hosting public information sessions to give British Columbians the opportunity to offer feedback about their recommendations.
The Commission proposes changes to the Saanich North and the Islands riding by removing the majority of Brentwood Bay (south of Stelly’s X Road and west of West Saanich Road) adding it to the Saanich South electoral district.
Saanich North and the Islands
This electoral district includes much of Central Saanich, as well as North Saanich, Sidney and the Southern Gulf Islands. Moving the community of Brentwood Bay from this riding into Saanich South, as we propose, creates room for the anticipated population growth in this riding. (Excerpt from P.51 Commission preliminary report)
The Commission notes that the population of Saanich North and the Islands is currently 57,346, while the population of Saanich South is 59,226.
For clarification, all of Central Saanich, not “much of Central Saanich,” is in Saanich North and the Islands. This proposal will add several thousand people to Saanich South. The Commission argues this is to create space for potential growth in the Saanich North and the Islands. It will be interesting to see if 6,000-10,000 people move into our riding in the next decade as is predicted by this recommendation.
The Commission is accepting written submissions and hosting a series of town hall meetings to hear from British Columbians about the proposed changes.
All public input must be received by 11:59 pm on Nov. 22, 2022.
For residents in the Greater Victoria area that meeting is on Monday, October 31, 2022, at the Victoria Convention Centre.
You can also make a written submission to offer feedback in the process.
Paulpellow@ Shaw.ca
Looks like political games to me, being a Brentwood Bay resident I find this pretty rude if I wanted to be in Saanich I’d move there. I don’t buy their reasoning.
This moving of riding boundaries is ridiculous. The Saanich Peninsula is a unique area is north of Saanich & Victoria. How can the committee decide HALF of Brentwood, including Brentwood’s bay & inlet, is politically ‘Saanich South’. I have lived on Verling Avenue (1 block from the “Butchart Gardens” sign on W. Saanich Rd at Keating), Brentwood, Saanichton & Sidney. I’ve always lived on the SAANICH PENINSULA. I have never lived in SAANICH. The Saanich Peninsula’s riding boundaries were minorly changed once to Saanich North & the Islands’. Leave this alone please. Surely the provincial gov’t has more important issues to contend with!