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Pemberton, Whistler split in redistricting

MP opposes move to place Pemberton in Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding Although the two communities are closely interrelated and have always fallen in the same federal and provincial electoral boundaries, a line will divide Whistler and Pemberton when

MP opposes move to place Pemberton in Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding

Although the two communities are closely interrelated and have always fallen in the same federal and provincial electoral boundaries, a line will divide Whistler and Pemberton when the B.C. Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission officially redraws its map next spring.

Pemberton is to become part of the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding, which is currently represented by Canadian Alliance MP Chuck Strahl.

The new electoral district was necessary to accommodate the addition of two new seats for British Columbia in Parliament, in recognition of the growing population of the province. In the 2001 census, the population of the province was pegged at just over 3.9 million, which translates to 36 federal electoral districts instead of 34.

The two new electoral districts are Guildford-Green Timbers and Surrey Newton.

The northern Cariboo-Chilcotin riding was lost in the reshuffling and added to Burnaby, which has been divided into two districts.

The West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast riding, which includes Whistler and Pemberton until the redistricting becomes official, was expanded in West Vancouver, making it one of the largest federal ridings in Canada.

"Some communities in Quebec have one MP for 75,000 people, and I have 125,000," said John Reynolds, the MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast and the Official Opposition House Leader with the Canadian Alliance. "The average in Canada is somewhere around 107,000. Other members of Parliament in B.C. also cover some large areas, so I think the (B.C. Federal Electoral Boundaries) Commission could have given us an extra seat."

Although it would have made his constituency even larger, Reynolds was opposed to the redistricting that would have separated Whistler and Pemberton on the electoral map. He made his objections known to the Commission, and suggested a couple of alternatives.

"The first was to keep Pemberton in this riding. It’s such a small number (of people) we’re talking about, so it wouldn’t have mattered that much," said Reynolds. "Or we could take Whistler out and keep Whistler and Pemberton together.

"They share a lot of the same issues, and I’ve represented both communities for a long time, at both the federal and provincial level. I’d like to see them stay together. It doesn’t make sense to break them up."

That said, Reynolds gave a vote of confidence to Strahl.

Although Pemberton is only connected to the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon district via the Duffey Lake Road, a proposal for a new so-called Sasquatch Highway linking Harrison Hot Springs to Pemberton is gaining momentum.

"Looking at it from his side, Chuck Strahl will have more reasons to push for the road to Pemberton, which is one positive for this whole thing," said Reynolds.

Anticipating the change, Strahl has made two appearances in Pemberton recently, as part of a contingent to promote the new Sasquatch Highway, and as part of last weekend’s Community to Community Forum.

Pemberton Mayor Elinor Warner was also opposed to the redistricting, believing that it was decided in Ottawa without considering geography or the ties between Pemberton and the Sea to Sky corridor.

"My main concern is that whoever is running this riding makes themselves acquainted with us," said Warner. "You hope that whoever represents you gets in and out of Pemberton, and learns the values and needs of the community. Whoever that is is going to have to do a tremendous amount of homework.

"When I need to talk to John Reynolds, he knows who I am and what I’m talking about. There’s going to be a learning curve for someone new," said Warner.

Some of the current issues that affect Pemberton at the federal level include the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S., and the mad cow scare that has impacted Canadian ranchers. Pemberton’s seed potato industry also deals extensively with the federal Agriculture Ministry.

In some ways the new district boundaries make sense because the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon district is also primarily agricultural, says Warner.

"Maybe that’s what they were thinking," she said. "Because Chilliwack is a farming area and we have potatoes and livestock, maybe they forgot all about the geographic location."

As to how the redistricting will impact on the relationship between Whistler and Pemberton, Warner says everyone will have to wait and see how things play out in the next election. If both communities are represented by MPs in the same party, for example, it might have less of an impact because the elected representatives will at least be in contact with one another.

Although Pemberton is still small, it is one of the fastest growing communities in the western provinces.

When Warner was first elected mayor in 1993 there were just over 300 people in the valley. Now the number is about 2,000, and poised to grow even more rapidly once a larger sewage treatment plant is in place.

Whistler and Pemberton are not just neighbours. Hundreds of Pemberton residents work in Whistler, and Pemberton’s close proximity to Whistler is having an impact on real estate prices and availability.

Whistler-Blackcomb and Whistler have been looking for ways to involve Pemberton and Mt. Currie in the local economy, and the communities are now connected by a municipal bus service.

Whistler Mayor Hugh O’Reilly believes that the new boundary will be reconsidered after the next election, once the government recognizes the problem.

"I was talking to the new MP for the area, and he agreed that it doesn’t make any sense," said O’Reilly.

While he doesn’t see any problems that would affect the relationship between Whistler and Pemberton, he says it’s awkward for the MP and for the people of Pemberton.

"The reality is that it’s not an efficient decision," he said.

However, if both districts elect members of the same party, O’Reilly can see a potential upside to the redistricting.

"We could have two people representing us federally," he said, referring to the Sea to Sky corridor.

Electoral districts are reassessed after every census.

Each electoral district in B.C. will be redrawn with the intention that each Member of Parliament will represent a population of approximately 108,500 constituents, although there is 25 per cent leeway in either direction to accommodate special circumstances, unique geography, high-density urban areas, business districts, etc.

The redistricting plan was to become official by August of 2004, but the Bill authorizing the change of electoral districts could be passed within the next few weeks. Now it is expected to become official by April of 2004, about the time the next federal election is expected to be held.