By Lasia Kretzel

Contentious Sask. federal boundary map complete

Aug 21, 2013 | 3:47 PM

After a contentious debate, the final map of new federal election boundaries in Saskatchewan is set in stone.

A commission tasked with redrawing the map says only a few tweaks were made after it considered objections from Conservative members of Parliament.

The overall number of seats in the province remains at 14.

Breaking with a five-decade long tradition, the new map reduces the number of urban-rural hybrids.  The final boundaries include five exclusively urban districts – three in Saskatoon and two in Regina – and larger rural ridings.

The commission altered the boundaries of the Prince Albert riding to include the communities of Batoche, Domremy and St. Louis, and moved an area, including the village of Avonlea, to the riding of Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan.

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“This is a map that enhances democracy in our province,” University of Saskatchewan political scientist David McGrane said.

“Rural voters are going to have one more MP exclusively devoted to their interests and urban voters are going to have five MPs exclusively devoted to their interests.”

McGrane said the morphing political boundaries will also induce a shifting of Conservatives around the province and the addition of new candidates.

“I think that’s good for the Conservative Party to have some new blood injected and I think it’s good for Saskatchewan to not be seeing the same slate of candidates over again.”

However, some Conservative MPs disagree with the changes. Some were against the urban-rural divide, arguing it will divide the province while larger geographical boundaries will make it difficult for rural constituents to get a hold of their representatives.

I’m disappointed that most of the recommendations made by the members of Parliament were rejected by the commission but I accept their final report,” Conservative MP for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar Kelly Block said.

Block’s riding was reformed between the rural Humboldt- Warman-Martensville-Rosetown and urban Saskatoon West. She said she will seek nomination in the Humboldt- Warman-Martensville-Rosetown, a decision she said was difficult to make.

It is unclear which riding, if any, her opponent, NDP candidate Nettie Wiebe, will run in during the next election.

In the past, the NDP has been very competitive with Conservatives within major cities. Last election, Wiebe won against Block within the urban portion of the Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar. Block said it is too early to predict an outcome for Saskatoon West.

“I believe my record of hard work and strong representation can be built on by the next individual that is chosen to run in that area,” Block said.

The office of Brad Trost, Conservative MP of Saskatoon-Humboldt, said he was travelling internationally and would not be announcing which riding he's decided to seek nomination in until Thursday.

The new boundaries will come into effect in the next election, set for October 2015.

-with files from the Canadian Press and News Talk Radio's Karin Yeske

news@panow.com.

On Twitter: @princealbertnow