By Chris Mangatal

New boundaries proposed for federal ridings in Saskatchewan

Aug 8, 2012 | 7:11 AM

Big changes could be in store for federal ridings in Saskatchewan.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission has proposed a new electoral map, that would change all 14 ridings in the province.

The biggest of the changes is that there would be the creation of three urban-specific ridings in Saskatoon and two in Regina.

“This is really a large change in the way the electoral map has been drawn, in the way that we've thought about ridings in this province over the last 50 or 60 years,” said Dave McGrane, a professor of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

“I think it's a win for both rural Saskatchewan and urban Saskatchewan.”

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According to McGrane, the current system is a problem because it requires MP's to represent people with completely different interests.

“One MP could represent both a rich farmer and someone living in poverty on 20th street,” said McGrane.

“Frankly, it creates bad democratic representation.”

People will likely start thinking about how the change would affect the results of the next election, but McGrane thinks that's the last thing people should be concerned about.

“What we should be concerned about is how these ridings, and how they are drawn up is good for democracy or bad for democracy,” he said.

He believes a combined urban-rural riding no longer represents the mind of Saskatchewan.

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