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South Okanagan Photos

It’s official – Penticton is now a Kootenay city

New federal electoral maps have been finalized in British Columbia setting the stage for the 2015 election races in each province.

In B.C., the commission redrew the map adding six new seats, saying “it could reasonably be anticipated that not everyone would endorse our proposed dispositions.”

South Okanagan—West Kootenay and Kootenay—Columbia

Mr. Alex Atamanenko (MP for British Columbia Southern Interior) objected to the proposed configuration of the South Okanagan—West Kootenay district. He suggests preserving the existing boundaries of the British Columbia Southern Interior district. He submits that the Nelson, Trail and Castlegar areas should be included in the same electoral district, as at present, and suggests the same for Penticton and Summerland. For his part, Mr. David Wilks (MP for Kootenay—Columbia) submits that the areas around Nakusp and New Denver should be removed from the reconfigured South Okanagan—West Kootenay district and added to the reconfigured Kootenay—Columbia district. He also suggests a boundary shift to include Fauquier and Needles in Kootenay—Columbia. Such changes, he argues, would enhance constituent and MP access. For example, an MP for Kootenay—Columbia could conveniently reach Nakusp and New Denver while driving from Revelstoke to Kaslo along Highway 23.

As the Committee noted in its report, a commission redrawing boundaries in British Columbia has to deal with some difficult geography. This particular area of the Southern Interior, comprising the existing British Columbia Southern Interior and Kootenay—Columbia districts, raises substantial challenges for arriving at an appropriate reconfiguration. Substantial growth in the Okanagan area impacts on the task.

The Commission knows the travel challenges of the Kootenay Pass and other mountain roads in this geographic area, particularly in the winter season. We spent much time reflecting on submissions we received in the public hearing process and personally examined much of the terrain of this area. Population numbers well above the electoral quota in the existing Okanagan districts were a factor not to be overlooked. At the same time, we note that the existing Kootenay—Columbia district has a population number considerably below the electoral quota. We are not insensible to community of interest issues in the reconfigured South Okanagan—West Kootenay and Kootenay—Columbia districts. Yet a salient factor in designing new electoral districts in this area was due regard for an appropriate population balance there, and generally in the Southern Interior. Boundary alterations in this area can have a domino effect on several districts.

As such, the only boundary alteration we consider feasible for reconfigured districts in this area is to remove the Edgewood area from South Okanagan—West Kootenay and attach it to North Okanagan—Shuswap; there should be more convenient access to this particular area via the City of Vernon. We find that we can accede no further to the objections and suggestions about the reconfiguration of South Okanagan—West Kootenay and Kootenay—Columbia.

South Okanagan—West Kootenay – Proposed Boundaries

(Population: 114,676)

Consisting of: (a) those parts of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary comprised of: (i) the cities of Grand Forks, Greenwood, Rossland and Trail; (ii) the villages of Midway and Warfield; (iii) subdivisions B, C, D and E;

(b) those parts of the Regional District of Central Kootenay comprised of: (i) the City of Castlegar; (ii) the villages of Kaslo, New Denver, Silverton and Slocan; (iii) subdivisions I and J; (iv) that part of Subdivision D lying southerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the southwesterly production of Cooper Creek with the westerly limit of Subdivision D; thence generally northeasterly along said production and said creek to the Duncan River; thence northerly along said river to Hamill Creek; thence generally northeasterly along said creek to a point at latitude 50°16’55″N and longitude 116°35’50″W; thence easterly in a straight line to the easterly limit of said subdivision; (v) that part of Subdivision E lying northerly of the Kootenay River; (vi) those parts of Subdivision F comprised of: (A) that part lying northerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the westerly limit of Subdivision F with Highway 3A+6; thence generally northeasterly along said highway to the southeasterly limit of said subdivision; (B) that part lying westerly and northerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the southerly limit of Subdivision F (Kootenay River) with the southerly projection of Grohman Creek; thence generally northerly along said projection and Grohman Creek to a point at approximate latitude 49°31’03″N and longitude 117°19’59″W; thence easterly in a straight line to the northwesterlymost point of the limit of the City of Nelson;

(vii) Subdivision H, excepting that part lying easterly and southerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the southerly limit of said subdivision with Highway No. 3A; thence generally northerly and easterly along said highway and Highway No. 3A+6 to the easterly limit of said subdivision; and

(c) that part of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen comprised of: (i) the City of Penticton; (ii) the towns of Oliver and Osoyoos; (iii) the Village of Keremeos; (iv) subdivisions A, B, C and E; (v) that part of Subdivision D lying easterly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the southerly limit of said subdivision with Highway No. 3A; thence generally northeasterly along said highway to the southerly limit of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1; (vi) those parts of Subdivision F described as follows: (A) commencing at the intersection of the easterly limit of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1 with the southerly limit of the District Municipality of Summerland; thence easterly along the limit of said district municipality and its production to the easterly limit of said subdivision; thence southerly along the easterly limit of said subdivision to the limit of Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1; thence generally northerly along the easterly limit of said Indian reserve to the point of commencement; (B) that part surrounded by the Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1;

(vii) that part of Subdivision G lying easterly and southerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the northerly limit of said subdivision with Highway No. 3A; thence southerly along said highway to Keremeos Bypass Road; thence southwesterly along said road to Crowsnest Highway (Highway No. 3); thence westerly along said highway to Ashnola Road; thence generally westerly along said road to the easterly limit of Ashnola Indian Reserve No. 10; thence generally southerly and westerly along the limits of said Indian reserve to its intersection with longitude 120°00’W; thence southerly along said longitude to the southerly limit of said subdivision; excepting Ashnola Indian Reserve No. 10; (viii) Penticton Indian Reserve No. 1.