This map shows proposed electoral boundaries for Nunavut as they appear in Bill 35, An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut. (Image courtesy of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut)
New bill proposes changes to some Nunavut electoral boundaries
Bill 35, An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut received first reading Oct. 19
A handful of Nunavut’s electoral boundaries are set to change if the legislative assembly approves a new bill, following recommendations made by the Nunavut Electoral Boundaries Commission earlier this year.
Bill 35, An Act Respecting the Constituencies of Nunavut, seeks to implement all of the commission’s recommendations. It received first reading in the legislative assembly Oct. 19.
While the number of ridings will remain steady at 22, it reconfigures boundaries in the Kivalliq region to fix concerns about underrepresentation.
Rankin Inlet North would be paired with Coral Harbour, and Chesterfield Inlet with Naujaat, in the newly created Rankin Inlet North-Coral Harbour and Chesterfield Inlet-Naujaat ridings.
They would replace the current ridings of Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet and Ailivik riding, which comprises the communities of Coral Harbour and Naujaat.
It also proposes to change the boundaries of Arviat North-Whale Cove and Arviat South to keep the riding populations proportional as the community grows.
Bill 35 proposes to redraw Arviat North-Whale Cove and Arviat South’s electoral boundaries in anticipation of the community’s growth. (Image from Bill 35, Nunavut Legislative Assembly)
There are minor tweaks coming to Iqaluit’s four electoral boundaries as well, to take into consideration what the commission called uneven population growth.
MLAs also tabled Bill 36, which amends the territory’s Elections Act and Plebiscites Act, on Oct. 19.
If passed, the bill would amend the acts to include online voters lists and enable Nunavummiut to vote in territorial elections when they are outside Nunavut for medical, employment or educational travel.
Also under the proposed amendments, residents who have left their home for more than 10 months would be considered to have lost their residence, excepting those in pursuit of higher education or who are being treated for an extended period of time at a medical facility.
Ugh! Divide up Nunavut. We have nothing to do with qitiqmiut and kivallallirmiut here in the east. Divide it up already. Tired of being ruled by others.
Every community should have its own MLA
This is what our MLA’s are concerned about?
What about mental health? There is a drug epidemic in Iqaluit that is spilling over to smaller communities, there is a drunken problem in Rankin,
What about the cost of living? The cost of food, fuel, mortgages, is on the rise, banks are foreclosing on residents,
What about making our runways better? They are the life line for all communities and many of then need major improments.
What about our kids education? The only way out of poverty is though education. How many times are schools going to close this year? What about the Education Act?
They are starting with electoral boundaries……I guess they want to get the easy one done with and pat themselves on the back and say good job.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted in consultations just to re-draw a few imaginary lines.