Big changes could be coming for some of the federal electoral ridings in New Brunswick.
The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for New Brunswick has released its proposed new electoral map.
One of the major changes suggested by the commission would see the City of Saint John split into two ridings.
Areas west of the Saint John River and Saint John Harbour would join New Brunswick Southwest, which would be renamed Saint John-St. Croix.
The rest of the city would remain in Saint John-Rothesay, which would grow to include Quispamsis and be renamed Saint John-Kennebecasis.
“The Commission recognizes that, in addition to dividing one city into two electoral districts, this proposal also attaches a small part of the City of Saint John to a largely rural electoral district,” the commission wrote in its proposal.
“Hybrid electoral districts are sometimes necessary, or desirable, to bring population numbers more in line with the provincial quota or to deal with natural topographical divisions.”
What is currently New Brunswick Southwest would lose the villages of Harvey and McAdam, the Rural Community of Hanwell, and several local parishes to the riding of Tobique-Mactaquac.
Riverview would be moved from the Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe riding and join Fundy Royal. The new riding names would be Moncton-Dieppe and Fundy Royal-Riverview.
The small part of the CIty of Moncton that is currently in the riding of Beauséjour would also be moved to the proposed riding of Moncton-Dieppe.
“The Commission recognizes the ties that bind the three communities that form the current riding. These militated strongly thus far in favour of keeping all of them together within one electoral district,” said the report.
“However, we are of the view that keeping them together while continuing to chip away parts of Dieppe and Riverview is no longer the most appropriate configuration for this riding when considering the available alternatives for creating an electoral map for New Brunswick.”
The commission must ensure the population of each riding is as close as possible to the electoral quota. Based upon the 2021 census, that number is 77,561 residents per electoral district.
However, the commission can also depart from the quota in order to “respect the community of interest or community of identity in or the historical pattern of an electoral district in the province” or “to maintain a manageable geographic size for districts in sparsely populated, rural or northern regions of the province.”
Currently, Saint John-Rothesay is 5.7 per cent over the electoral quota, New Brunswick Southwest is 12.6 per cent under, Fundy Royal is 7.9 per cent over, and Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe is 30.5 per cent over.
Under the proposed new ridings, Saint John-Kennebecasis would be 5.7 per cent over the quota, Saint John-St. Croix would be 1.8 per cent over, Fundy Royal-Riverview would be 4.3 per cent under, and Moncton-Dieppe would be 17.8 per cent over.
‘I’m going to fight this’: Saint John MP
The proposed boundary changes are not sitting well with some, including the current MP for Saint John-Rothesay.
Wayne Long said splitting the City of Saint John into two separate ridings will dilute representation for Saint John.
“As it currently sits, west Saint John, the Port of Saint John, is going to have an MP that is in St. Stephen and then from the bridge through to Quispamsis will be another MP,” Long said in a phone interview on Friday.
The Liberal MP said Saint John-Rothesay said a “red riding surrounded by a sea of blue,” pointing to the fact that New Brunswick Southwest and Fundy Royal are both represented by Conservatives.
“What effectively is happening here is the riding is being split in two and being morphed into blue areas,” he said.
Long pointed out that both Moncton and Fredericton are each represented by one MP, and it should be the same for Saint John.
The third-term MP said he is going to fight the proposed changes to ensure Saint John stays as one riding.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that West Saint John blood flows through my veins. I made my home there, I grew up there, and I certainly love West Saint John,” said Long.
“I’m going to fight this. West Saint John absolutely should not be incorporated into New Brunswick Southwest.”
Despite his opposition to this part of the proposal, Long said he would be happy to see Quispamsis join the riding.
“I like that change. Quispamsis is certainly becoming more urban, they’re growing, and I don’t have a problem with that,” he said.
Our newsroom requested comment from New Brunswick Southwest Conservative MP John Williamson about the change but he was not immediately available.
Input from the public
Residents will be able to have their say on the proposed changes during a series of public hearings in September.
Hearings are scheduled in Woodstock, Saint-Quentin, Saint-Léolin, Newcastle, Shediac, Moncton, Sussex, Rothesay, Saint Andrews and Fredericton. A virtual hearing is also scheduled for Sept. 29.
You can also send comments and feedback by mail or email without attending a public hearing.
Commission members will also consider objections from members of the House of Commons before preparing a final report outlining the electoral boundaries for the province.
Elections Canada has said the new electoral map is expected to be done in late 2023, but the changes will not take effect until at least 2024.
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