(File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Voting Information

Commission suggests changes to Sask. federal ridings, biggest impact to Desnethé – Missinippi – Churchill River

May 10, 2022 | 9:57 AM

The Saskatchewan federal ridings could look quite different during the next election.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Saskatchewan is proposing a new electoral map they believe will best represent the province. Several criteria are considered, including population and geography.

Ridings are reviewed every 10 years after the federal census.

Arguably the biggest change will be to Desnethé – Missinippi – Churchill River.

“There’s this one riding, large riding, representing 50 per cent of the landmass,” said Justice Georgina Jackson, chair of the commission. “What does effective representation mean for that riding?”

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To ensure each community gets the attention it needs, the commission is proposing the riding be cut down in size. This means bordering ridings like Prince Albert and Battlefords – Lloydminster will see a jump in their population.

The biggest issue with shrinking Desnethé – Missinippi – Churchill River will be its population.

A riding can’t be 25 per cent higher or lower than the provincial quota, a number determined by dividing the province’s population by the number of ridings, with Desnethé – Missinippi – Churchill River slated to be 44 per cent below.

Currently, the riding has a population of around 71,000 with it dropping down to roughly 46,000 through the proposed change.

“The commission is considering whether the situation with Desnethé – Missinippi – Churchill River is extraordinary, such that it justifies a departure of 25 per cent,” added Jackson.

What the commission is recommending isn’t new, in fact, three ridings in Canada have been deemed extraordinary for this exact same reason. They include Abitibi – Baie-James – Nunavik – Eeyou, Kenora, and Labrador.

Other Ridings

If approved, the Prince Albert riding will expand to include Prince Albert National Park and surrounding communities. Melfort, Nipawin, and Tisdale would remain in the riding.

This change would increase the riding’s population from 80,000 to more than 85,000.

Thanks to the shrinking of Desnethé – Missinippi – Churchill River, Battlefords – Lloydminster’s population would jump by around 10,000 to 83,000.

One of the biggest changes through the proposal would be the elimination of the Carlton Trail – Eagle Creek riding. It currently encompasses several communities including Humboldt, Martensville, and Rosthern.

The commission is suggesting a big chunk of this riding be replaced with a new one called Saskatoon – Wanuskewin. It will contain the aforementioned communities along with St. Brieux which would come over from Yorkton – Melville.

Yorkton – Melville would instead get Carrot River which is currently a part of the Prince Albert riding.

Since Saskatoon would become the highest populated area within the new riding, the commission decided to change the name to Saskatoon – Wanuskewin.

Proposed riding map. (Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Saskatchewan )

Give Your Thoughts

The public will have several opportunities to share their opinion on the proposed changes as 14 in-person hearings have been scheduled across the province.

Prince Albert will host one on June 22 at the Best Western Premier.

The next hearing will be in La Ronge on June 24 at the Kikinahk Friendship Centre., Meadow Lake will host on June 27at the Flying Dust Community Centre and North Battleford will also host a hearing at the Don Ross Centre on June 28.

All hearings will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Those wanting to make a presentation can mail or email the commission’s office, fill out the public hearing notice form, or use the interactive mapping tool. All requests must be before June 13.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow