The Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon electoral district could get a new look if proposed changes are passed by the House of Commons.
A report by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for British Columbia was tabled in the House of Commons on Wednesday (Feb. 8), mapping changes to the province’s federal electoral districts.
Proposed alterations to the Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon district include the removal of Agassiz, an area of Kent, and the territory extending along the Fraser Canyon to Lillooet into the Thompson River area. The removed territory would be replaced by a larger portion of the City of Abbotsford.
The reconfigured district would be renamed Mission-Matsqui-Abbotsford and include all of the Sumas Prairie. The changes would respect the municipal boundary between Chilliwack and Abbotsford on the east, reach Sumas Way on the west, and extend south to the US border.
The electoral district of Chilliwack—Hope would annex the areas removed from the Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon district.
RELATED: Preliminary report shows less-dramatic changes to Abbotsford ridings, but Mission gets more compact
Current Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon MP Brad Vis says he will wait for more information to comment on the proposed changes.
“I welcome the thorough work of the Committee. As there are a number of significant changes that were made to the original report, I will be consulting with my constituents and other stakeholders who raised concerns during the hearings before commenting on the specifics in detailed fashion,” Vis said.
The report will be reviewed by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. The timeline for the changes extends into September 2023, with the next steps including objections from MPs, consideration of the objections and a representation order.
“The Commission’s task was to propose new boundaries for federal electoral districts in the province to maximize voter parity while taking into consideration social and geographic factors, including respect for communities of interest or identity,” a news release from the commission read. “These considerations, along with public feedback gathered from written submissions and at public hearings held between June 6 and Sep. 29, 2022, factored into the report tabled in the House today.”
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dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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