A parliamentary committee is critical of the circumstances surrounding a proposed overhaul of Saskatchewan’s federal boundaries, but stopped short of calling for a full redraft.
Saskatchewan’s mixed urban-rural ridings would be nearly eliminated under “significant” changes proposed in January by the province's boundary commission.
The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs report, tabled Monday, argues that such a "fundamental shift" would be better implemented without dissent amongst the commission members, widespread opposition by MPs, and “significant public objection.”
However, “it would not serve the interest of Saskatchewanians to insist, at this stage, on a complete redraft” of the proposed boundaries. Instead, the committee wants the commission to consider a series of smaller changes proposed by Conservative MPs.
Commissioners, appointed by each province's chief justice and the Speaker of the House of Commons, considered geography, history, and population in crafting their initial boundary proposal. Public hearings took place before the final report was submitted to Parliament and considered by the procedure committee.
However, the commission holds final say over the province's electoral map.
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Only Regina Qu’Appelle, currently held by House Speaker Andrew Scheer, would remain as a blended urban-rural district among the province’s 14 ridings.
Saskatoon and Regina would receive three and two urban ridings, respectively. In the former, Saskatoon-University, Saskatoon-Grasswood, and Saskatoon West, while in the latter, Regina-Lewvan and Regina-Wascana.
MAP: Saskatchewan
MAP: Regina
MAP: Saskatoon
Another riding would be mainly urban (Prince Albert), while the other seven would encompass rural areas; several have been enlarged to account for the new urban boundaries.
However, the decision was not unanimous amongst the three-member board. David Marit, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, filed a dissenting report against his two colleagues. He said their recommendations would have a "negative impact not only on our communities, but on the province as a whole."
Marit's letter opposed the shift from blended rural-urban ridings and calls for a reduced number of big city-only districts.
Saskatchewan's 2002 boundary commission backed away from separated urban and rural ridings (six and eight, respectively) after negative reaction at public hearings.
Liberal deputy leader Ralph Goodale (Wascana), the province's only non-Conservative MP, strongly supports the proposed changes as "measured, reasoned, and balanced."
However, 12 of the province's 13 remaining MPs, all Conservatives, aired their objections. (Andrew Scheer was the exception; as Speaker of the House he was not permitted to be involved in the process) Many focused on the same set of arguments against the move from hybrid ridings.
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Here are some of the MP recommendations accepted by the committee:
- Randy Hoback (Prince Albert) told the committee that video conferencing tools such as Skype was not a viable replacement for face-to-face meetings in enlarged ridings. He also called for Batoche, Domremy, Saint Louis, Saint Brieux and Naicam to be included in his riding.
- Rob Clarke (Desnethé--Missinippi--Churchill River) hopes for the communities of Choiceland, Smeaton, White Fox, and Love to remain in his riding, along with Shellbrook.
- Kelly Block (Saskatoon--Rosetown--Biggar) said the proposal "completely ignores the ebb and flow between urban and rural Saskatchewan, and does not contemplate our history or our future." Block sought for all of downtown to be included in the proposed Saskatoon--University riding, with Silverwood Heights moved to Saskatoon West.
- Brad Trost (Saskatoon--Humboldt) agreed with the suggested tweaks within Saskatoon. He asked for support to place all of Saint Louis in Prince Albert riding to join other communities with francophone heritage.
- Tom Lukiwski (Regina--Lumsden--Lake Centre) wants the Cathedral area of Regina moved from Regina-Lewvan to Regina-Qu'Appelle.
Other Conservatives took a more general approach to their opposition while appearing at the committee.
- Ed Komarnicki (Souris--Moose Mountain) argued that Saskatchewan's population increase -- 54,448 over the past 10 years -- doesn't justify a radical change. David Anderson (Cypress Hills--Grasslands) agreed that there was no compelling reason to create urban-only seats.
- Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords--Lloydminster) was concerned about voter apathy.
- Garry Breitkreuz (Yorkton--Melville) said the plan "will negatively affect our agricultural voice" in Parliament.
- Lynne Yelich (Blackstrap), the minister for western economic diversification, was one of many Conservative MPs to point to the 75-per-cent figure in Marit's dissenting report. Yelich said "change for the sake of change should be discouraged," and that her redrawn riding would be difficult to manage.
- Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon--Wanuskewin), meanwhile, accused commission member John Courtney of a "fixed mindset" before hearing any testimony. The MP said Courtney's pre-determination to create urban boundaries did a "disservice" to process. Committee members Nathan Cullen (NDP) and Stéphane Dion (Liberal) responded that Vellacott was levelling a serious accusation. Vellacott also rejected the notion that improved electronic communication could be an offset for larger ridings.
- Ray Boughen (Palliser), who doesn't plan to run in the next election, claimed the commission was "predisposed to dramatically shifting the boundaries from the outset" and that it was "preposterous" to suggest urban and rural regions have different interests.
Saskatoon and Regina grew faster than the rest of the province over the past decade. Overall, the provincial population jumped 5.56 per cent between 2001 and 2011. The four fastest-growing ridings were of the mixed urban-rural variety: Blackstrap, Saskatoon—Humboldt, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, and Wascana.
Saskatchewan has a population of 1,033,381, as of the 2011 census, for an average of 73,813 per riding.
-Andrew Thomson
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