(file photo/Vernon Matters Staff)

By Liam Verster

Will split-up Vernon

Chamber opposes changes to electoral boundary, 9,000 Vernon residents affected

Nov 2, 2022 | 11:33 AM

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is voicing opposition to proposed changes to the local electoral boundaries.

The Provincial Electoral Boundaries Redistribution Committee is recommending redrawing the boundary of the Vernon-Monashee electoral area to better balance the riding’s population with other nearby electoral areas.

The proposed changes to the Vernon-Monashee riding would move Predator Ridge, Beachcomber Bay, Okanagan Landing and Bella Vista Highlands out of Vernon-Monashee and into the Kelowna-Lake Country riding.

The Chamber is opposing the change, saying in an open letter that the redistribution will mean a large part of Vernon’s population would be separated from the community that provides the municipal services, including economic development, planning and infrastructure, at the provincial level. It adds the roughly 9,000 people that live in those neighbourhoods have interests more aligned with Vernon, Coldstream and the North Okanagan, and not Lake Country or Kelowna.

It also noted the Regional District of North Okanagan is in charge of domestic water, trails and cultural services to those neighbourhoods, while the City of Vernon is responsible for transportation access.

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“Vernon is a single economic and social unit, with businesses supporting consumers in all neighbourhoods, and creating employment for residents throughout the community. Neighbourhoods such as Predator Ridge and Okanagan Landing play a significant role in the local economy,” Chamber President Robin Cardew wrote in a statement.

“Organizations such as the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce, as well as vital social service agencies, serve all residents and businesses of Vernon.”

In the letter, Cardew said he appreciates the commission responding to population growth in B.C. by redistributing boundaries, but added the Chamber believes having the City of Vernon as a single common representative at the provincial level is the best course to pursue.

He noted having Vernon all included in one riding would allow for having a single representative, which would simplify the process to pursue senior government support for projects and services; would create better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the representative; allow for organizations to direct limited resources to a single elected representative for advocating purposes; and having a single Member of the Legislative Assembly providing effective representation for Vernon.

The report suggests keeping Cherryville and Lumby in the Vernon-Monashee district as there are economic and social connections between those communities and Vernon and Coldstream. Cardew said that same thought should be considered when applied to the Predator Ridge, Okanagan Landing and Bella Vista areas.

Cardew also voiced concerns that the approximately 9,000 residents moving out of the Vernon electoral area in the proposal would “have their electoral voice muted by the larger population of Kelowna that will dominate the focus of the MLA.”

Cardew requested in the letter that the City of Vernon not be divided by a new electoral boundary and that it be included with the District of Coldstream and Areas B and C of the RDNO in the same riding.

Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu was one of the recipients of the open letter.

In a statement issued prior to the letter being sent, Sandhu thanked the commission for its work and would be listening to feedback from members of the community before making a submission at a future MLA hearing.

“In doing so, my priorities are to ensure that residents feel represented and connected to their MLA,” Sandhu said.

“I encourage everyone to provide feedback to the commission when they can.”

The commission is accepting input until November 22, 2022. Click here to make a submission.

Its final report is expected to be published in spring 2023.