There will be twice as many election signs lining Mountain Highway this year because for the first time Lynn Valley will be split down the middle. Half will remain in North Vancouver (currently represented by Jonathan Wilkinson) and half will join Burnaby-North Seymour (currently held by Terry Beech).
Divided
The multi-year evaluation of electoral boundaries in Canada culminated with public input and official changes taking effect in 2023. This will be the first federal election with Lyn Valley divided by Mountain Highway. Previously the community was represented by one member of Parliament – Johnathan Wilkson – with the riding of North Vancouver.
During the process there were a few different scenarios dividing Howe Sound, West Vancouver, City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver. Previous elections have had those East of Lynn Creek in the District join North Burnaby. For the first time, parts of Lynn Valley and Grand Boulevard will join them.
“The system is reviewed after every 10 year census that is to make sure electoral boundaries are fair and reasonable and reflect the population and where growth has been” said Dr. Caroline Elliott, a sessional instructor in the Political Science Department at SFU. “The main thing they look at is population equality.”
Dr. Caroline Elliott
The goal is to make sure each district has approximately the same population within a province, with considerations to keep language, culture and history considered to to keep communities together, she said.
“One of the big things they look at are geographic boundaries that make sense in less dense communities. In Northern British Columbia to get a [riding] density the same as metro Vancouver, it would take up so much physical land that it would be very hard to physically move throughout the region to represent the people effectively,” said Elliott.
“We might think what does Deep Cove have to do with Hastings Street but also think of one community in the Peace region and a town completely out of the region represented by the same person.”
Less about space, more about people
Having Lynn divided could have challenges and benefits. There are now two voices in Parliament representing the neighbourhood but the percentage of voices within the ridings will be smaller.
“I think there are impacts on the representative and on the communities,” said Elliott. “It’s challenging when it might not be close to their home. [West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country] from Pemberton to Sechelt – that puts the onus on the representative to get to know and understand communities that may have very different interests. The impact on those being representative is getting your voice heard can be difficult if traveling is required to be heard. A riding like North Vancou
ver-Capilano is much more contained, representing Ambleside, Edgemont, North Vancouver and parts of Lynn Valley.”
A split like Lynn Valley has faced can be jarring.
“Generally communities like to be kept whole,” said Elliott. “A lot of people in Lynn Valley may be thinking ‘Are we going to get the attention our community needs if they only represent half the people?’ It’s an excellent question to ask candidates about how they will listen to your community.”
Despite the discomfort of change, Canadians can feel protected by the process of electoral boundaries, she said. The process is independent from politicians and happens regularly and with a rigorously defined process.
“There is a lot that goes into being a representative beyond geographic boundaries. Like community and interest groups and once they have been elected it is their job to do their absolute best to represent each and every person who lives in that riding,” said Elliott. “Regardless of whether they voted for them or not or whether they live in the area they live in or not. More than a boundary, I think it is the person that gets elected that matters.
“Get engaged in the electoral process, ask the questions about how we will be represented, ensuring the candidates are thinking about the new communities they are representing.”
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