100 Mile House
JobFest offered a lot of information for local youth
Watch Lake/ Green Lake gymkhana great
Stumpranchers HOOTSTOCK will be a hoot
A3
A28
B3
Carriage Driving
A28 JULY 18, 2012
• 52 Pages • Two Sections
$1.34 includes HST
Yellow power... Former local resident Ed Thomson, left, and June Walton travelled from Surrey with his 2005 Viper truck hauling a 2001 Viper on his trailer. It was their annual visit for the Hot July Nights Car & Bike Show in 100 Mile House’s Centennial Park, July 14. See more photos on B1. Monika Paterson photo
Local electoral area poised to join Chilliwack riding 100 Mile House faces removal from federal Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Riding Carole Rooney Free Press
Changes to federal riding boundaries are set to withdraw 100 Mile House and 108 Mile Ranch from the KamloopsThompson-Cariboo (KTC) riding and put them in the Chilliwack-
The Voice of the South Cariboo Since 1960 How to reach us: Ph: 250-395-2219 Fax: 250-395-3939 www.100milefreepress.net mail@100milefreepress.net
Fraser Canyon. Cathy McLeod, who currently represents all of the South Cariboo in the KTC, says it’s not a political decision, but rather a new electoral map for British Columbia proposed by the independent Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission. It will be considered at public hearings this fall. As a result of the increase of almost a halfmillion people in B.C.’s population during the past decade, she explains the province will gain six electoral ridings, and also see Valemount join the Peace River-Prince George Riding. “[It’s] trying to come
up with some reasonably equal distributions amongst the ridings in terms of population.” The aim is to keep each riding at about 104,000, McLeod says, adding the change will see KTC drop from about 125,000 to 110,000. 100 Mile “obviously has a significant interest in the proposal,” she notes, so its residents may want to take advantage of the opportunity to submit their comments or request an oral presentation at the fall hearing. “This is their first draft, and now is the opportunity for the public to indicate ... if it makes sense, and certainly the
ultimate boundaries might be somewhat different than [this]. It’s up to the public and the communities to provide input.” Asked if she has concerns about bringing local rural issues such as challenges with South Cariboo agriculture into a Lower Mainland riding, McLeod says it is a commission decision and residents with concerns should address them accordingly. “It’s not my decision. Certainly from my perspective, I’ve enjoyed every community that is in this riding and ... working with 100 Mile House on its issues, and proud
of the fact they have an [MP] office there.” The chair of the threemember commission, Judge John E. Hall, says high population growth in the Kamloops area, Chilliwack and in three other regions prompted the “substantial adjustments” to boundary lines. Beyond the numbers, he explains the commission focused on historical patterns and community “interest or identity” toward a goal of effective representation in Parliament. “We also bore in mind the proper representation of First Nations communities and residents of the
northern electoral districts,” says Hall. Most areas west of 100 Mile House are not affected, such as Canim Lake, Lone Butte, Interlakes and most of the Watch Lake/ Green Lake area. McLeod advises those residents to consult the online map viewer at www.federal -redistribution.ca to see if their areas are included. A public hearing for residents in the riding to present their views on the proposal is slated for Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Kamloops Convention Centre at 1250 Rogers Way. Anyone requesting to make a presentation or See RIDING… page A4