David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks Conservative spin doctors need to be quick on the draw if they want to read what the ghost of comments past posts about matters before CBC ignores free speech and makes his words evaporate N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/06/province-has-until-fall-to-appoint.html
#nbpoli #cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-electoral-riding-boundaries-1.5614026
Province has until fall to appoint commission that would redraw electoral boundaries
At time of COVID restrictions, commission would have to hold public hearings, report by next spring
· CBC News · Posted: Jun 17, 2020 7:00 AM AT
The Blaine Higgs government must appoint an independent commission to redraw electoral riding boundaries that would keep with population shifts. (Government of New Brunswick)
Pandemic or no pandemic, the Higgs government is facing a looming deadline to start the redrawing of the province's 49 electoral riding boundaries.
A provincial law requires the appointment of an independent commission by October, followed by public hearings and a preliminary report by next March.
Those hearings would have to take place while COVID-19 measures are still in effect in the province, including restrictions on indoor gatherings of more than 10 people.
Taking guidance from Public Health
Premier Blaine Higgs said in a statement that the commission will be appointed on schedule "so it can undertake its vital work."He said the province "will take guidance from Public Health and other officials on how the commission can undertake its important outreach with New Brunswickers, in relation to the risks posed by COVID 19."
The law requires a redrawing of electoral boundaries every 10 years to reflect population increases and decreases.
That's to ensure that each riding has roughly the same number of voters so that political representation is roughly equal.
"In order for the population to be effectively represented, it's important that the boundaries be looked at [and] that they do reflect changes in population shifts, demographics, and whatnot," said chief electoral officer Kim Poffenroth.
For the population to be effectively represented, chief electoral officer Kim Poffenroth said boundaries need to reflect changes in population shifts across the province. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Poffenroth's office organizes and regulates elections but plays no direct role in the creation of the commission.
But earlier this year she did remind staff in Higgs's office that the process would have to start soon.
"I just wanted to make sure they were aware there was a time limit there that was coming up," she said.
Commission must be in place by fall
Under New Brunswick's fixed-date election law, the next scheduled provincial vote will take place on Oct. 17, 2022. The commission must be in place no later than 24 months before that, meaning this fall.It's an automatic requirement that must go ahead given the government has not introduced any legislation to delay the timeline.
The law that dictates the creation of the commission is also exempt from proposed new emergency powers now before the house that would let the cabinet suspend existing provincial laws.
The timeline requires a preliminary report within 150 days of the commission being appointed, which means around mid-March 2021.
After a 14-day public comment period, the commission must issue a final report within 30 days, which means new ridings would probably take effect in May.
That introduces a new variable into speculation about election timing.
If the Higgs government were defeated next spring in a budget vote and an election were triggered, parties would be contesting existing ridings while knowing that a new map with new ridings was on the verge of being finalized.
If a campaign were triggered just a few weeks later, the new map would be in effect, and newly formed party associations would have to scramble to organize membership lists based on the new boundaries and to nominate candidates.
Adding rural constituencies
In the last redrawing in 2013, rural and northern areas lost seats to reflect their shrinking population, while the Moncton area, with its booming population, gained a riding.The law at the time required ridings to have populations within five percent of a provincial average.
That forced the commission to create huge rural constituencies to stay within the legal range. The village of McAdam was added to the same riding as St. Stephen and St. Andrews.
The constituency of Southwest Miramichi-Bay du Vin runs from Boiestown to Escuminac, a drive of more than two hours.
Francophone groups threatened legal action over the 2013 map, arguing placing the village of Memramcook in the new majority anglophone riding of Memramcook-Tantramar would reduce the voting clout of francophones.
They dropped the legal action after the Liberal government of Brian Gallant updated the law to let riding population sizes deviate from the average by as much as 15 per cent.
Deviations of 25 per cent are allowed in "extraordinary circumstances" to ensure effective representation of anglophone and francophone communities, making it possible to accommodate Memramcook during the next redrawing.
The commission is to be made up of anglophone and francophone co-chairs and three to five members.
They're chosen based on recommendations by the legislative administration committee, which, for the first time since the boundaries law was created, has no government majority and is made up of MLAs from four parties.
Cutting MLAs to reduce political pressure
Earlier this year Higgs mused about how cutting the number of MLAs might reduce the political pressure on governments to spend more money on projects in ridings.He said at a news conference that he would leave it to the commission to consider how many there should be.
In fact, the existing law establishes the number of ridings, not the commission, and the government hasn't introduced legislation to reduce the number from 49.
About the Author
53 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks I heard another Higgy flip flop N'esy Pas? "Earlier this year Higgs mused about how cutting the number of MLAs might reduce the political pressure on governments to spend more money on projects in ridings."
Lou Bell
I expect we'll be hearing from Methinks , leader of the 4 member " Me Party " shortly . Joe and Tony and James .
James Smythe
Reply to @Lou Bell: Nobody knows what you’re talking about Lou, yourself included.
Terry
Tibbs
Reply to @James Smythe:
Or cares too much either.
Or cares too much either.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks little Lou needs to be quicker on the draw if she wants to read what the ghost of comments past posted about this matter N'esy Pas?
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks little Lou needs to be quicker on the draw if she wants to read what the ghost of comments past posted about this matter N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Ah , got the attention of two members !
Lou Bell
Well I guess the tail won't be wagging the dog anytime soon ! The Northeast will certainly be having fewer representatives . The " Shediac 5 " is gonna have their work cut out for them in manipulating the borders this time !
Dan Stewart
Reply to @Lou Bell:
Is that because you are fully expecting this government to manipulate
the borders in their favour this time?
Joseph Vacher
Reply to @Lou Bell: the atcon boys still at it
Joseph Vacher
Not a good day to be a liberal in NB............ caraquet is going to lose some seats
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Joseph Vacher: Mais Oui Bruce Sanders
First step is, how many MLA do we really need? NB has the third highest per capita in Canada. Not saying we need 11 (Ontario's per capita equivalent). 20 MLS is more than enough.
Decide this first, then set up the commission . All you MLAs who do not want the number to be smaller, shame on you for wasting taxpayer money.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Bruce Sanders: Methinks they don't know what that emotion is N'esy Pas?
michael levesque
whats the point? the french vote liberal and the English vote conservative,
Johnny Almar
Reply to @michael levesque: can we move the Quebec border south?
Rob Sense
Reply to @Johnny Almar:
How about the western border to the east?
How about the western border to the east?
Joseph Vacher
Reply to @michael levesque: one gets more seats then it deserves for the number of people living there
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @michael levesque: Nay not so
June Arnott
Reply to @michael
levesque: not true . Stop trying to generalize everyone based on
language. There is enough hatred in the world based on skin colour as
it is.
Jason Inness
Reply to @michael
levesque: Actually, if you look at it closer, it is broken down by
religious lines. Catholics generally have traditionally voted Liberal
(the Catholic church used to endorse the Liberals), the Protestants and
Anglicans traditionally voted PC. That is why you will notice a lot of
Irish Catholics voting and running in the Liberal party. Of course,
religious institutions don't endorse parties anymore, and as the
population changes, the younger voters don't care about these old
traditional ways of voting, which is why we are finally seeing parties
like the People's Alliance and Green Party gaining support based on
policies (other provinces have long had third parties, and have
benefited from the variety of perspectives/policies).
Dan Stewart
Reply to @michael levesque: If you think that's the case you are missing some facts.
Lou Bell
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Better still ,move north Johnny !
Jeff LeBlanc
Reply to @michael levesque: I voted Purple and I suspect you'll see more and more as time goes on.
David News
If the purpose of redrawing the electoral map is about making sure that voting is equal across the province. Why are we wasting our time with the old and tired, first past the post style of election.
That allows someone with 1 vote more that the other candidates to win the election. Never mind that means the could have 25% of the riding's votes +1 and win. That is a joke, there should be a requirement to have at least 50%+1 to win a seat.
Maybe it is time to bring in 1st vote, 2nd vote... Where if no one gets sufficient, the ballots are re tabulated based on the voters second choice.
As it stands now we do not have a democracy. we have a contrived popularity contest.
David Amos
Reply to @David News: Methinks you voted for Trudeau the Younger in 2015 because of his promise of electoral reform N'esy Pas?
David News
Reply to @David Amos:
I will admit that was something that I thought was over due in being
done. But did not impact the way I voted
James Smythe
Sweeping police powers to card innocent citizens, mandatory vaccinations with notwithstanding clause protection, and we’re gerrymandering now too? Since when did NB vote in the Republicans?
Johnny Almar
Reply to @James Smythe: Quit projecting. Democrats do that. Not Republicans.
James Smythe
Reply to @Johnny
Almar: Except that our own conservative government is batting 3/3 on all
of the above this month alone, or have you been too busy hiding under
the covers from the virus to notice?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @James Smythe: When the PANB decided to support Higgy
Dan Stewart
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Lol.. That's a joke right Johnny?
Samual Johnston
Reply to @James Smythe:s so you don't think election boundaries should ever be touched?
Gerry Ferguson
Sure. Appoint a commission and pay big money that we don't have. Just leave the boundaries where they are. Most of the population centers haven't moved.
David Peters
Reply to @Gerry Ferguson:
...but then, where are they going to find patronage appointments for friends of the gov't?
...but then, where are they going to find patronage appointments for friends of the gov't?
Rob Sense
Reply to @Gerry Ferguson:
The Population has moved....just look at the last census. It is undemocratic comment the changing demographics. One person's vote must have the same weight either in Moncton or Mount Carleton.
The Population has moved....just look at the last census. It is undemocratic comment the changing demographics. One person's vote must have the same weight either in Moncton or Mount Carleton.
Bruce Sanders
Reply to @Rob Sense:
There is a census next year, correct? We can wait one year. I propose
(and will write to my MLA) that the number of MLAs be reduced to 20.
Joseph Vacher
Reply to @Gerry
Ferguson: yes they have, people have been leaving rural areas and moving
into urban cities. small rural communities have a strangle on this
province and are misrepresented
David Amos
Reply to @David Peters: BINGO
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Gerry
Ferguson: Unfortunately, provincial law doesn't agree with you. It
requires a commission and an overhaul every ten years - as stated in the
article.
Samual Johnston
Reply to @Gerry
Ferguson: well why not just point us to the data showing this and we
will get on board with it? and if you are right the commission would no
double come to the same conclusion. Some things need to be done as
they are written into law and do have a place in making our system work.
Johnny Almar
Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today
To get through this thing called life
Electric word life it means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here to tell you there's something else (go crazy)
If you don't like, the world you're living in
Take a look around you at least you got friends
Come on lady for friendly word
She picked up the phone, dropped it on the floor
Ah, ah is all I heard
Are we gonna let the elevator
Bring us down, oh, no let's go
Let's go crazy, let's get nuts
Look for the purple banana
'Til they put us in the truck, let's go
All excited but we don't know why
Maybe it's 'cause we're all gonna die
And when we do, what's it all for
Better live now before the grim reaper
Come knocking on your door
Are we gonna let the elevator
Bring us down, oh, no let's go
Let's go crazy, let's get nuts
Look for the purple banana
'Til they put us in the truck, let's go
Come on baby let's get nuts
Yeah, crazy
Let's go crazy
Are we gonna let the elevator bring us down
Oh, no let's go, go crazy
I said let's go, go crazy
Let's go, let's go, go, let's go
Dr. Everything'll Be Alright
Make everything go wrong
Pills and thrills and daffodils will kill
Hang tough children
He's comin'
He's comin'
Comin'
Take me away
Ben Haroldson
Reply to @Johnny Almar: You need to be taken away
Rob Sense
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Yup
Johnny Almar
Reply to @Ben Haroldson: Where do you want to go to?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Johnny Almar: So says a snitch
Lou Bell
Reply to @Johnny Almar: Talk about a can of nuts !!!!
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