Post on 28-Oct-2014
description
transcript
Electoral Boundaries Commission
Toward Fair and Effective Representation
September 24, 2012
Teresa MacNeil, CM, PhD Chair
Electoral Boundaries Commission
Toward Fair and Effective Representation
September 24, 2012
Teresa MacNeil, CM, PhD Chair
Contents
Foreword.................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................3
Structure.and.Operation...........................................................................................................................5
Terms.of.Reference..................................................................................................................................6
Interpreting.the.Terms.of.Reference.........................................................................................................7
Initial.Interpretation...................................................................................................................7
Subsequent.Interpretation...........................................................................................................8
Dissenting.Member.of.the.Commission.......................................................................................9
Electoral.Redistribution.in.Nova.Scotia:.Key.Issues.and.Challenges.........................................................14
Voter.Parity.versus.Effective.Representation..............................................................................15
Number.of.Seats.in.the.House.of.Assembly................................................................................16
Minority.Representation.and.Protected.Constituencies..............................................................18
Electoral.System.Reform...........................................................................................................21
Population.and.Electoral.Data................................................................................................................23
The.Public.Consultation.Process.............................................................................................................24
Table.1:.2001.and.2011.Electors.and.Seat.Entitlements.for.Existing.Electoral.Constituencies.................26
Proposed.Electoral.Redistribution..........................................................................................................28
Introduction.............................................................................................................................28
Regional.Overview....................................................................................................................28
Proposed.Changes.to.Existing.Electoral.Boundaries,.by.Constituency........................................31
Table.2:.Proposed.Constituencies,.with.Electors.and.Seat.Entitlements,.2012.........................................36
Table.3:.Proposed.Constituencies.and.Number.of.Electors,.by.Region....................................................38
Table.4:.Existing.and.Proposed.Seats,.by.Region.....................................................................................40
Table.5:.Existing.and.Proposed.Average.Seat.Entitlement,.by.Region.......................................................41
Maps......................................................................................................................................................42
Other.Recommendations........................................................................................................................51
Appendices:
Appendix.A:.Description.of.Proposed.Electoral.Boundaries......................................................54
Appendix.B:.Public.Meetings.Schedule.(first.round).................................................................68
Appendix.C:.Public.Meetings.Schedule.(second.round)............................................................69
Appendix.D:.Presenters.(first.round,.in.order.of.presentation).................................................70
Appendix.E:.Presenters.(second.round,.in.order.of.presentation)............................................74
Appendix.F:.Written.Submissions.Received.January.11–May.31,.2012..(in.alphabetical.order).............................................................................................................79
Appendix.G:.Written.Submissions.Received.June.1–July.13,.2012..(in.alphabetical.order).............................................................................................................82
Appendix.H:.Written.Submissions.Received.July.14–September.4,.2012..(in.alphabetical.order).............................................................................................................84
Appendix.I:.Summary.of.Comments.from.the.Public.................................................................90
Summary.of.Comments.from.the.Public,.to.May.31,.2012..(before.release.of.the.Interim.Report)........................................................................90
Summary.of.Comments.from.the.Public,.June.1–July.13,.2012..(after.release.of.the.Interim.Report)...........................................................................95
Summary.of.Comments.from.the.Public,.July.14–September.6,.2012..(after.release.of.the.Revised.Interim.Report)..............................................................98
Appendix.J:.Letter.from.the.Hon..Ross.Landry,.Attorney.General,.June.14,.2012......................110
Appendix.K:.Elaboration.on.Data.Sources...............................................................................111
Appendix.L:.Composition.of.the.Provincial.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission........................113
The.Honourable.Ross.Landry.Attorney.General.and.Minister.of.Justice.Department.of.Justice.5151.Terminal.Road,.PO.Box.7.Halifax,.NS.B3J..2L6
September.24,.2012
Dear.Minister:
We.are.pleased.to.submit.the.Final.Report.of.the.Nova.Scotia.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission..This.report.contains.the.Commission’s.recommendations.for.changes.to.the.province’s.electoral.boundaries.for.consideration.by.the.Nova.Scotia.House.of.Assembly.
Sincerely,
Teresa.MacNeil,.Chair
J..Colin.Dodds,.Vice.Chair
James.P..Bickerton
Barbara.F..Feeney
Paul.Gaudet
Douglas.Peach
Rustum.Southwell
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 1
ForewordReflections from the Chair
It.looked.straightforward.enough.when.my.colleagues.and.I.accepted.the.assignment.to.serve.as.Nova.Scotia’s.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission..Yes,.it.would.involve.many.days.on.winter.roads,.but.it.came.with.the.reward.of.improving.our.understanding.of.population.shifts.in.the.province’s.varied.communities..We.were.given.terms.of.reference,.not.much.different.from.those.provided.the.commission.that.preceded.us.ten.years.earlier.and.the.one.ten.years.before.that..Direction.was.set.for.us.about.public.consultations.and.deadlines,.and.we.were.given.a.small.staff.to.manage.day-to-day.operations..Add.this.firm.base.to.the.experience,.expertise,.and.representativeness.of.the.Commission’s.members.and.it.was.practically.guaranteed.that.the.task.before.us.would.be.ably.achieved.
These.positive.features.of.the.task.lived.up.to.their.promise..Looking.back.over.the.time.since.the.Commission’s.first.meeting.on.January.31,.only.one.point.disrupted.the.otherwise.smooth.flow.of.the.review.process..And.what.a.point.it.turned.out.to.be!.It.happened.because.our.deliberations.leading.to.the.May.31.Interim.Report.convinced.all.but.one.of.us.that.it.would.not.be.appropriate.for.the.Commission.to.require.the.four.“protected.constituencies”.to.meet.the.given.standard.for.equal.electoral.population..Subsequently,.we.were.informed.by.the.Attorney.General.that.the.Commission.did.not.have.the.authority.to.deviate.from.its.terms.of.reference..It.meant.we.either.had.to.resign.or.prepare.another.redistribution.plan.in.a.revised.interim.report.
I.want.to.thank.my.colleagues.on.the.Commission,.highly.competent.and.busy.people,.for.their.generosity.in.staying.the.course.despite.challenges.that.were.at.times.untenable..One.member.resigned.and.was.not.replaced..Her.diligence.and.concern.have.been.greatly.missed.
There.can.be.no.question.about.the.determination.of.Nova.Scotians.to.express.their.views.about.their.electoral.boundaries,.particularly.when.they.see.unwelcome.change.in.the.making..As.this.report.shows,.we.had.the.advantage.of.hearing.and.reading.hundreds.of.suggestions.for.revising,.or.not,.the.province’s.electoral.districts..In.several.communities,.we.met.with.very.large.numbers.of.citizens.whose.voices.underscored.formal.presentations..We.sincerely.thank.all.who.took.the.time.to.participate.in.this.important.democratic.exercise..We.took.many.conflicting.views.into.consideration..Regrettably,.we.know.that.in.the.end,.many.will.not.agree.with.our.recommendations.
We.had.a.lot.of.help.along.the.way..Our.support.staff—led.by.Darryl.C..Eisan,.Director,.with.Shealagh.McGrath,.Administrative.Assistant,.and.Geographic.Information.System.(GIS).Analyst.Kevin.Steeves—provided.seamless.oversight.for.our.work.from.start.to.finish..Christine.McCulloch,.QC,.former.Chief.Electoral.Officer,.literally.opened.the.doors.of.Elections.Nova.Scotia.to.assist.us..That.hospitality.was.continued.by.her.successor,.Richard.Temporale,.and.his.staff..Throughout,.we.had.the.advantage.of.access.to.Elections.Nova.Scotia’s.excellent.technical.resources.and.convenient.meeting.facilities..Through.James.MacInnes,.Manager.of.Legislative.Television.and.Broadcast.and.Recording.Services,.and.his.Administrative.Assistant,.Anita.Fraser,.we.were.privileged.to.receive.truly.professional.support..Matt.Hemeon,.Paul.Read,.Blake.Ross,.and.Reed.Jones.joined.us.on.the.road.as.the.audio-visual.technicians.who.were.never.at.a.loss.to.accommodate.an.unusual.circumstance..Communications.Nova.Scotia.dealt.promptly.with.our.numerous.communications.needs.through.Angela.Campbell,.Manager,.Client.Services.
2 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
and.Project.Management..The.Hansard.Office.of.the.Nova.Scotia.House.of.Assembly,.through.Editor.Robert.Kinsman,.was.diligent.in.providing.us.with.the.verbatim.transcripts.of.our.public.meetings..The.Office.of.Acadian.Affairs,.through.Senior.Translator.Melany.Close,.was.prompt.to.translate.documents.at.a.moment’s.notice,.and.Treasury.Board,.through.Derek.Harvey,.Corporate.Financial.Analyst,.provided.various.forms.of.financial.assistance..Together,.they.made.it.possible.for.us.to.work.effectively..We.extend.our.sincere.thanks.to.them.all.
Teresa.MacNeil.Chair
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 3
Introduction
The.Select.Committee.on.Establishing.an.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.released.its.report.on.December.30,.2011..Under.the.chairmanship.of.the.Honourable.Ross.Landry,.it.recommended.the.Commission’s.terms.of.reference.along.with.names.of.the.eight.members.who.would.make.up.the.independent.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.
This.Final.Report.of.the.2012.Boundaries.Commission.marks.the.completion.of.the.third.review.of.Nova.Scotia’s.electoral.boundaries.carried.out.in.the.past.two.decades.by.independent.commissions.to.ensure.that.legislative.representation.keeps.pace.with.population.growth.and.movement..Changes.in.population.call.for.shifts.in.legislative.representation..The.objective.is.relative.voting.parity,.recognizing.that.there.is.a.wide.range.of.views.and.interests.to.consider.in.achieving.effective.representation.
This.report.presents.the.Commission’s.conclusions.about.adjustments.to.the.province’s.electoral.boundary.lines..It.is.the.result.of.a.review.of.the.current.circumstances.within.each.of.Nova.Scotia’s.52.electoral.constituencies.and.is.in.keeping.with.all.of.the.given.terms.of.reference.
The.report.also.mentions.some.of.the.challenges.we.encountered.along.the.way..At.first.glance,.the.Commission’s.job.was.simple.enough..We.were.directed.to.be.guided.by.our.terms.of.reference,.to.end.up.with.no.more.than.52.seats,.with.each.constituency.having.essentially.the.same.number.of.voters..Simply.dividing.the.province’s.711,588.eligible.voters.by.52.would.give.us.an.average.of.13,684.voters.in.each.constituency..But.we.were.given.allowance.to.vary.that.number.within.25.per.cent.on.either.side.of.the.average.out.of.respect.for.such.circumstances.as.geography,.community.history.and.interests,.and.Nova.Scotia’s.linguistic.and.cultural.diversity..Despite.the.25.per.cent.allowance.for.deviation.from.the.average,.those.circumstances.frequently.became.sticking.points.among.citizens.faced.with.our.proposals.to.change.long-established.boundary.lines.
The.procedure.we.followed.was.determined.by.Section.5.of.the.House.of.Assembly.Act.which.sets.out.directions,.including.that.“the.commission.prepare.a.preliminary.report.and.hold.public.hearings.prior.to.preparing.the.preliminary.report;.and.following.the.preparation.of.the.preliminary.report.the.commission.hold.further.public.hearings.prior.to.preparing.its.final.report.”
Our.Interim.(preliminary).Report.was.released.on.May.31,.2012,.with.the.intent.that.it.would.generate.discussion.and.prompt.feedback.during.a.second.round.of.public.meetings..In.preparing.that.report,.we.treated.the.terms.of.reference.as.a.guide..In.fact,.we.complied.with.all.of.the.terms,.with.the.exception.that.as.an.independent.commission.we.used.our.discretion.to.maintain.the.status.of.the.four.“protected.constituencies”.which.meant.that.they.would.continue.to.exceed.the.25.per.cent.variance.from.the.average.set.out.as.the.allowable.variance.in.the.terms.of.reference..These.are.the.electoral.districts.of.Clare,.Argyle,.Richmond,.and.Preston,.which.were.extended.protected.status.as.minority.constituencies.by.the.Government.of.Nova.Scotia.in.1991..The.House.of.Assembly.approved.constituency.boundaries.for.the.designated.Acadian.and.African.Nova.Scotian.communities.that.effectively.increased.their.voting.strength.relative.to.other.constituencies.in.the.province..By.not.requiring.the.four.constituencies.to.meet.the.same.relative.voter.parity.standard.as.other.districts,.their.special.status.would.remain..We.were.respecting.linguistic.and.cultural.diversity.as.well.as.community.history,.interest,.and.identity.
4 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
On.June.14,.2012,.we.received.a.letter.(see.Appendix.J).from.the.Attorney.General.stating.that.he.was.unable.to.accept.the.Interim.Report.because.the.terms.of.reference.were.mandatory,.not.a.matter.of.guidance..With.advice.that.the.terms.of.reference.were.legally.binding.upon.the.Commission,.he.declared.the.Interim.Report.null.and.void.and.requested.us.to.prepare.a.revised.interim.report.that.fully.complied.with.the.terms.of.reference.
In.response.to.the.Attorney.General’s.letter,.the.Commission.prepared.and.released.the.Revised.Interim.Report.to.have.all.constituencies.fall.within.±25.per.cent.of.the.average.number.of.electors,.as.stated.in.clause.2(d).of.the.Commission’s.Terms.of.Reference..A.second.round.of.nine.public.meetings.followed,.along.with.446.e-mails,.12.letters,.and.82.telephone.messages.in.response.to.the.new.proposals..We.were.impressed.by.the.high.level.of.participation.in.those.meetings.and.the.significant.volume.of.correspondence.we.received..This.Final.Report.takes.into.account,.to.the.extent.possible,.this.very.substantial.amount.of.public.response,.although.we.have.to.report.that.at.times.the.feedback.was.conflicting.or.not.in.accordance.with.our.terms.of.reference.
Our.task.was.to.present.concluding.recommendations.for.boundary.revisions.to.provincial.electoral.districts.for.the.approval.of.the.House.of.Assembly;.moreover,.these.recommendations.should.be.fully.compliant.with.the.terms.of.reference..We.believe.we.have.done.that..We.also.include.in.this.report.some.observations.based.on.this.Commission’s.experience.with.the.overall.boundary.review.process..Our.intent.is.that.they.might.be.of.assistance.to.future.electoral.boundary.reviews.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 5
The.independent.Nova.Scotia.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.was.established.by.the.Select.Committee.on.Establishing.an.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.on.December.30,.2011..The.Commission.comprised.eight.people,.with.Dr..Teresa.MacNeil.(Johnstown,.Richmond.County).appointed.as.Chair..The.other.members.of.the.Commission.were.Dr..Colin.Dodds,.Vice.Chair.(Halifax),.Dr..Jill.L..Grant.(Dartmouth),.Dr..James.P..Bickerton.(Antigonish),.Mr..Douglas.Peach.(Marion.Bridge,.Cape.Breton),.Mr..Paul.Gaudet.(Saulnierville),.Mr..Rustum.Southwell.(Bedford),.and.Ms..Barbara.Feeney.(Mahone.Bay)..Of.note,.Dr..Grant.resigned.from.the.Commission.on.May.31,.2012.
Three.people.made.up.the.staff.of.the.Commission:.Darryl.C..Eisan,.seconded.from.the.Nova.Scotia.Public.Service,.served.as.Director,.responsible.for.the.day-to-day.operation.of.the.Commission’s.work;.Shealagh.McGrath.was.the.Commission’s.Administrative.Assistant;.and.Kevin.Steeves,.seconded.from.Elections.Nova.Scotia,.provided.GIS.and.mapping.expertise.
The.Commission.was.physically.located.at.Elections.Nova.Scotia.and.during.the.course.of.its.work.held.20.business.meetings.
Commission.members.agreed.that.the.Chair.would.serve.as.the.Commission’s.principal.spokesperson.
In.February,.the.Chair.sent.a.letter.to.the.Speaker.of.the.Nova.Scotia.House.of.Assembly.in.response.to.the.concern.voiced.by.some.Commissioners.that.they.had.not.received.a.letter.of.appointment;.in.particular,.they.received.no.communication.setting.out.general.expectations.for.the.Commission..In.his.letter.of.reply.(February.28,2012),.the.Speaker.wrote.that.“......the.terms.of.reference.established.in.the.Report.of.the.Select.Committee.constitute.the.totality.of.direction.to.the.Commission.and.no.person.or.body.is.authorized.to.give.further.direction.(subject.to.any.further.direction.from.the.House.of.Assembly).”
Recommendation
The Commission is mindful that, once formally appointed, it is to function
independently of influence from government and the legislature. The Commission
is also aware that knowledge of basic operational guidelines would help members
to be confident that they are working within the normal expectations of a publicly
appointed body. It therefore suggests that, in future, an orientation session take place
at the outset of the Commission’s appointment. This should include a handbook
outlining routine operational requirements. The Select Committee on Establishing an
Electoral Boundaries Commission could be tasked with these responsibilities.
Structure and Operation
6 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Terms of Reference
The.Terms.of.Reference.provided.by.the.Select.Committee.on.Establishing.an.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.are.as.follows:.
(2) Terms of Reference for the Provincial Boundaries Commission
In.keeping.with.the.constitutional.right.of.Nova.Scotians.to.fair.and.effective.representation,.the.Committee.directs.the.Provincial.Boundaries.Commission.to.be.guided.by.the.following:
2(a).Based.on.the.most.recent.census.and.other.population.data.available,.the.Commission.delineate.electoral.boundaries.to.achieve.an.Assembly.of.not.more.than.52.seats,.not.counting.any.additional.Member.authorized.pursuant.to.Section.6.of.the.House.of.Assembly.Act;
2(b).Of.paramount.importance,.relative.parity.of.voting.power.must.be.achieved.through.constituencies.of.equal.electoral.population.to.the.extent.possible;
2(c).Deviations.from.parity.of.voting.power.may.be.justified.in.consideration.of:.
i.. Geography,.in.particular,.the.difficulty.in.effectively.representing.a.large.physical.area;
ii.. Community.history.and.interests;
iii.. Nova.Scotia’s.linguistic.and.cultural.diversity,.in.particular,.the.province’s.Acadian.and.African.Nova.Scotia.population..
2(d).Notwithstanding.2(c),.no.constituency.may.deviate.by.a.variance.greater.or.less.than.25.per.cent.from.the.average.number.of.electors.per.constituency;
2(e).The.Commission.shall.seek.the.advice,.support.and.hear.such.presentations.and.consider.such.other.information.in.such.ways,.at.such.times.and.in.such.places.as.it.deems.advisable,.respecting.existing.electoral.districts.and.the.establishment.of.new.electoral.districts,.as.well.as.the.area,.name,.representation.and.implementation.of.those.electoral.districts;.
2(f).All.submissions.to.the.Commission.from.individuals.and.organizations.be.made.in.public;
2(g).In.considering.the.representation.of.communities.of.interest,.the.Commission.may.also.seek.the.advice.of.linguistic.and.cultural.groups,.including.Mi’kmaq,.Acadian.and.African.Nova.Scotian.representatives;.
2(h).Simultaneous.French.translation.may.be.provided.at.designated.meetings.in.Acadian.Communities.and.at.any.other.meetings.the.Commission.deems.appropriate;.
2(i).The.Commission.must.submit.its.interim.report.to.the.Attorney.General.of.Nova.Scotia,.as.designate.of.the.Premier.of.Nova.Scotia,.on.or.before.May.31,.2012,.and.its.final.report,.on.or.before.August.31,.2012..
3).For.greater.clarity.the.Commission.is.to.be.bound.by.Section.5,.subsections.5.(4).and.(5),.of.the.House.of.Assembly.Act.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 7
Interpreting the Terms of Reference
The.terms.of.reference.for.the.current.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.are.similar.to.those.that.governed.the.two.previous.reviews.(1991,.2001)..They.continue.to.place.paramount.importance.on.relative.voter.parity,.and.they.specify.that.the.Commission.consider.geography,.community.history,.and.interests.and.Nova.Scotia’s.linguistic.and.cultural.diversity.as.possible.justifications.for.deviating.from.relative.voting.power.in.framing.constituency.boundaries.
The.following.three.considerations.within.the.terms.of.reference.for.this.Commission.differ.from.those.of.the.previous.commissions:
•. First,.it.is.indicated.in.clause.2(a).that.the.Commission.may.delineate.not.more.than.52.seats;.previous.commissions.were.directed.to.provide.recommendations.for.52.seats.
•. Second,.in.clause.2(d),.it.is.indicated.that.notwithstanding.concerns.about.geography,.community.history.and.interests,.and.Nova.Scotia’s.linguistic.and.cultural.diversity,.constituencies.may.not.deviate.by.a.variance.greater.or.less.than.25.per.cent.from.the.average.number.of.electors.per.constituency.
•. Third,.the.Commission.need.not.be.constrained.by.county.boundaries.
Initial Interpretation
Regarding.each.of.these.three.considerations,.we.worked.from.the.premise.initially.of.retaining.a.Legislative.Assembly.of.52.seats,.and.we.were.not.constrained.by.county.or.municipal.boundaries. However,.Clause.2(d).presented.us.with.a.considerable.challenge,.particularly.with.respect.to.the.four.constituencies.(Argyle,.Clare,.Preston,.and.Richmond).that.had.been.protected.for.the.past.20.years..Enlarging.the.number.of.voters.for.each.to.reach.75.per.cent.of.the.average.number.of.voters.would.mean.loss.of.the.established.boundaries.that.were.accorded.in.1991..Following.lengthy.debate,.the.majority.position.of.the.Commission.was.presented.in.the.Interim.Report.(May.31,.2012):.to.retain.the.protected.constituencies.of.Argyle,.Clare,.Preston,.and.Richmond..One.member.registered.a.dissenting.opinion.with.respect.to.this.decision.and.later.resigned.from.the.Commission.
Our.initial,.general interpretation—as.an.independent.commission—was.to.treat.the.various.clauses.as.guides..This.was.in.keeping.with.the.wording.contained.in.the.terms.of.reference: “The.[Select].Committee.directs.the.provincial.Boundaries.Commission.to.be.guided.by.the.following......” In.fact,.all.clauses.were.observed.except.for.our.decision.to.retain.the.protected.constituencies.
As.matters.turned.out,.our.initial,.general.interpretation.of.the.terms.of.reference was.not.accepted..Following.delivery.of.the.Interim.Report,.we.were.advised.by.letter.(June.14,.2012).from.the.Attorney.General.that.he.was.“not.able.to.accept.the.interim.report.as.drafted,.as.it.does.not.follow.the.requirements.set.out.in.the.terms.of.reference.in.the.final.report.of.the.Select.Committee.”.He.further.indicated.that.the.terms.of.reference.were.legally.binding..At.this.point,.we.found.ourselves.without.any.discretionary.authority.
8 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Subsequent Interpretation
Faced.with.the.requirement.to.prepare.a.revised.interim.report,.we.agreed.to.try.to.achieve.relative.voter.parity.throughout.the.province’s.electoral.constituencies.as.mandated.by.the.Attorney.General..This.became.a.difficult.exercise..The.Revised.Interim.Report.was.released.on.July.20,.followed.two.weeks.later.by.a.round.of.nine.public.meetings.
The.proposals.in.the.Revised.Interim.Report.met.with.a.most.welcome.and.very.strong.public.response:.a.total.of.156.people.made.presentations.during.well-attended.meetings.(over.3,000.attendees),.and.a.total.of.540.messages.were.received.via.e-mail.and.telephone..Voices.of.dissatisfaction.came.especially.from.places.where.the.loss.of.a.voting.poll.or.the.merger.of.electoral.districts.was.proposed;.from.neighbouring.districts.that.might.have.to.surrender.some.of.their.voters.to.help.fill.the.requirement.for.additional.voters.in.constituencies.where.voter.numbers.were.below.the.minimum.75.per.cent.requirement;.and.from.persons.convinced.that.proposed.new.lines.would.break.up.long-established.neighbourhoods.or.communities..In.some.constituencies,.the.sitting.Member.of.the.Legislative.Assembly.(MLA).led.the.resistance.to.the.Commission’s.proposals.
From.the.high.level.of.negative.public.response,.we.might.conclude.that.many.of.those.who.objected.simply.didn’t.understand.the.principle.of.relative.voter.parity—that.one.voter.should.have.approximately.the.same.power.as.another..On.the.other.hand,.they.may.have.understood.the.principle.but.simply.did.not.consider.it.valid..In.underpopulated.rural.areas,.for.example,.the.argument.was.made.again.and.again.that.the.large.territory.to.be.covered.by.an.MLA.should.justify.a.much.smaller.number.of.electors.than.required.by.the.established.standard..Some.argued.that.to.overcome.the.geographic.challenge,.there.should.be.more.than.52.seats..Arguments.offered.by.the.protected.constituencies.referred.over.and.over.again.to.the.unique.significance.of.their.history.and.culture.in.Nova.Scotia..Many.strong,.well-reasoned.presentations.made.to.the.Commission.argued.against.holding.strictly.to.one.clause.or.another,.expressing.strong.sentiments.of.loss.of.identity.or.declaring.unwillingness.to.merge.with.neighbouring.districts..Nonetheless,.this.Final.Report.proposes.electoral.distribution.that.meets.all.of.the.terms.of.reference.as.required.by.the.Attorney.General.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 9
Dissenting Member of the Commission by.Paul.Gaudet
“Ménager la chèvre et le chou!”
I.dissent.from.the.other.Commission.members.who.recommend.the.elimination.of.the.three.protected.Acadian.constituencies.in.the.Final.Report.
The.formidable.task.assigned.to.the.NS.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.is.reminiscent.of.the.old.story.of.the.farmer.who.had.to.carry.a.wolf,.a.goat,.and.his.cabbage.across.the.river,.one.at.a.time,.while.attempting.to.keep.all.three.from.consuming.or.being.consumed.by.the.others..Ménager la chèvre et le chou! (Manage the goat and the cabbage!). In.short,.manage.the.challenge.of.conflicting.and.irreconcilable.interests:.“Protect.minority.representation.while.respecting.the.rules.on.average.riding.sizes,”.as.was.summarized.in.the.August.20,.2012,.Chronicle Herald.editorial.
The.Commission,.tossed.on.the.horns.of.a.dilemma.from.the.outset,.realized.that.there.were.conflicting.guidelines.in.the.terms.of.reference..In.particular,.subsections.2(c).and.2(d).became.the.source.of.much.anguish..And.use.of.the.term.“notwithstanding”.did.not.clarify.the.issue..I,.personally,.struggled.with.the.reference.to.the.±.25%.variance.factor.
Two.letters.enlightened.me..(Copies.of.these.letters.were.attached.to.the.brief.presented.by.the.Clare.Municipality.to.the.Commission.on.August.14,.2012,.at.its.public.meeting.in.Church.Point.).One,.dated.January.27,.2012,.was.from.Premier.Dexter.to.Mr..Gérard.Thériault..A.second.was.from.former.Finance.Minister.and.Minister.of.Acadian.Affairs.Graham.Steele,.in.response.to.Père.Maurice.LeBlanc’s.article.in.Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse.on.February.3,.2012..In.my.understanding,.these.letters.stated.that.the.independent.Commission.could.make.recommendations.that.included.the.two.extremes.of.maintaining.the.status.quo.or.eliminating.the.protected.ridings..I,.of.course,.chose.the.status.quo.option.
It.made.a.travesty.of.the.Commission’s.legitimate.“independent”.consultation.when.the.Commission’s.recommendation.to.maintain.the.protected.ridings.was.rejected.by.the.Attorney.General.of.Nova.Scotia..The.convoluted.nature.of.the.process.by.which.the.terms.of.reference.for.the.Commission.were.finally.defined.effectively.eliminated.transparency.from.the.process.and,.in.my.view,.discouraged.public.understanding.of,.and.confidence.in,.the.Commission’s.role..To.add.insult.to.injury,.the.Final.Report.of.the.Commission.recommends.the.elimination.of.the.existing.four.protected.ridings.by.direct.order.of.the.Attorney.General.on.the.grounds.that.they.are.too.small..They.were.small.in.1991.and.2001;.small,.in.fact,.since.1836,.when.the.first.Acadian.was.elected.to.the.Nova.Scotia.House.of.Assembly.
10 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Did.the.Attorney.General.have.the.mandate,.at.that.time,.to.reject.or.accept.the.first.report?.The.final.term.of.reference.stipulates.that.“for.greater.clarity.the.Commission.is.bound.by.Section.5,.subsections.5(4).and.5(5),.of.the.House.of.Assembly.Act”:
(4) The commission shall prepare, for approval by the House, a report recommending the boundaries and names for the electoral districts comprising the House.
(5) The terms of reference of the commission shall provide that:
(a) the commission is broadly representative of the population of the Province;
(b) the commission prepare a preliminary report and hold public hearings prior to preparing the preliminary report; and
(c) following the preparation of the preliminary report the commission hold further public hearings prior to preparing its final report. (House of Assembly Act, RSNS 1989 (1992 Supp, c 1)
Nowhere.in.Section.5.of.the.act.does.it.state.that.at.any.point.during.the.proceedings.of.the.independent.Commission.that.an.arbitrary.ministerial.ruling.may.be.made.that.would,.in.fact,.prematurely.set.the.only.possible.outcome.and.circumvent.the.recommendations.of.the.Commission.before.it.had.completed.its.task!.The.stated.procedure.is.this:
(6) The final report of the commission shall be laid before the House, if the House is sitting, and the Premier, or the Premier’s designate, shall table the report in the House on the next sitting day.
(7) If the House is not sitting when the final report of the commission is completed, the final report shall be filed with the Clerk of the House and the Premier, or the Premier’s designate, shall table the final report in the House within ten days after the House next sits.
(8) Within ten sitting days after the final report of the commission is tabled in the House pursuant to subsection (6) or (7), the Government shall introduce legislation to implement the recommendations contained in the final report of the commission. (R.S. 1992 Supp., c1, s. 5, c 34, s. 2.)
The.previous.(2001).Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.had.terms.of.reference.similar.to.the.current.review,.including.the.±25.per.cent.variance.factor,.but.was.permitted.to.recommend.that.the.minority.representation.be.exempt.from.that.numeric.requirement,.based.on.an.“extraordinary.circumstances”.clause,.which.was.“the.desire.to.promote.minority.representation.by.Nova.Scotia’s.Acadian.and.Black.communities.”.(Just Boundaries: Recommendations for Effective Representation for the People of
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 11
Nova Scotia..August 2002, p..13)..After.studying.the.Supreme.Court.decision.in.the.Carter.case.[Reference re Prov. Electoral Boundaries (Sask.), 1991],.they.discussed.the.issue.at.length.and.concurred.that.the.principle.of.“‘effective.representation’.......comprises.many.factors,.of.which.equity.is.but.one.”.Another.key.phrase.from.that.landmark.decision.with.relevance.to.the.current.Nova.Scotia.dilemma.is.this.one:
Effective representation and good government in this country compel that factors other than voter parity, such as geography and community interests, be taken into account in setting electoral boundaries. Departures from the Canadian ideal of effective representation, where they exist, will be found to violate s. 3 of the Charter.
As.Acadians,.we.are.in.danger.of.losing.our.identity..It.is.a.daily.struggle.for.each.and.every.one.of.us.to.be.fully.Acadian..The.French.Acadian.language,.a.beautiful.and.gentle.language.with.a.direct.link.to.the.langue de Molière,.is.in.peril..Expulsion,.assimilation,.and.now.the.threat.of.losing.our.voice.in.the.Nova.Scotia.House.of.Assembly.leads.me.to.believe.that.the.slow.and.painful.extinction.of.the.Acadian.people.is.in.the.works.
The.Acadian.constituencies.are.much.more.than.an.enclos.where.ballots.are.counted.on.election.day..They.have.become.a.proud.and.patent.symbol,.geographically.and.politically,.of.the.significant.Acadian.historical.and.cultural.presence.in.Nova.Scotia..These.ridings.are.the.places.Acadian.citizens.call.home;.where.their.language.is.spoken.and.their.traditions.practised..They.are.also.the.bases.for.securing.and.sustaining.social.and.economic.prosperity..This.vital.cornerstone.of.resilience.over.adversity.cannot.be.dismissed.lightly..What.I.heard,.saw,.and.read.in.relation.to.our.work.on.the.Commission.over.the.period.from.January.2012.to.the.present.convinces.me.that.the.Commission.was.justified.in.recommending.in.the.Interim.Report.the.continued.protection.of.the.minority.ridings.
Are.we.to.accept.that.the.outcome.for.sustaining.protected.ridings.does.not.rest.in.the.hands.of.the.citizens.of.Nova.Scotia,.or.those.with.special.expertise.in.these.matters,.or.indeed.with.the.citizen.members.of.the.Commission?.The.legislated.protection.was.granted.for.valid.reasons.and.requires.considerably.more.in-depth.study.and.review.than.this.process.allowed..No.explanation.has.been.given.for.decreeing.elimination,.and.not.one.of.the.many.public.presenters.suggested.that.it.would.be.of.any.benefit.to.their.constituencies.to.have.the.minority.ridings.eliminated..The.citizens.are.the.only.rightful.source.of.political.power,.and.they.made.their.wishes.known..So.did.the.members.of.an.independent.public.commission..It.appears.that.the.answers.will.now.descend.from.the.hard.realm.of.political.calculation.and.action,.where.many.sparrows.fall..The.heavy-handed.intervention.by.the.Attorney.General.represents,.for.me,.a.dark.day.in.the.history.of.Nova.Scotia,.especially.for.the.Acadians..The.many.relevant.substantive.issues.have.not.been.addressed..True.democracy.is.not.served.in.the.presence.of.oppression.of.minorities.by.the.majority.
I.cannot.comprehend.that.the.long-standing.rationale.for.protected.ridings.in.Nova.Scotia.is.so.completely.misunderstood.and.disrespected.by.the.government.that.elimination.was.initiated.by.the.
12 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
simple.stroke.of.a.pen,.which.established.the.so-called.independent.Commission,.during.the.2011.Christmas.holidays..The.requirement.for.absolute.adherence.to.the.±25.per.cent.notwithstanding.clause.was.a.top-down.decision.made.behind.closed.doors,.in.a.scenario.that.discouraged.public.scrutiny.and.appreciation.of.the.complex.issues.at.stake..Has.political.will.become.so.degraded.that.it.can.be.controlled.by.“first-past-the-post”.leaders.and.fed.by.perceptions.churned.out.by.spin.doctors?
Some.background.information.on.effective.representation.should.be.looked.at..One.point.to.be.studied.is.raised.in.the.following.quotation.from.the.distinguished.academic.Dr..John.C..Courtney:
Is it a coincidence that the concept of effective representation came along and was taken up in various quarters at roughly the same time that prevailing conceptions of representation and citizenship were being challenged by identity groups such as Aboriginals, Acadians, and Nova Scotian Blacks? Almost certainly not. Their claim to representation in an elected assembly rested on the premise that they could most adequately be represented by members of their own group. In this sense, what was being argued was precisely the blending of districts constructed in a certain fashion and the subsequent representation of their constituents . . . Implicit in their argument was the recognition that effective representation brings together both elements of differentiated citizenship as it applies to electoral district – that is, who is entitled to vote in specially designed ridings and what is expected after the vote in terms of representing the interests of the constituents.
In Carter, the Supreme Court of Canada signalled its acceptance of something amounting to a “politics of difference.” According to the court, relative parity of voter power could be tempered by minority representation and effective representation when the application of those concepts was justified on the grounds of contributing to better government.”
— Commissioned Ridings: Designing Canada’s Electoral Districts (2001), p. 246
Governments.come.and.go;.politicians.come.and.go..On.the.other.hand,.Nova.Scotia.is.more.than.a.political.construct..Its.history.is.deeply.rooted.in.the.soil.and.toil.of.l’Acadie.since.the.17th.century..Rejection.of.protected.ridings.will.have.far-reaching.consequences.that.I.dare.say.will.negatively.affect.the.political.and.social.landscape.of.Nova.Scotia.for.generations.to.come.
Against.my.better.judgment,.I.participated.in.the.exercise.of.writing.a.revised.interim.report,.knowing.full.well.it.wouldn’t.protect.existing.protected.minority.representation..It.was.a.mistake.to.think.we.could.adequately.address.the.conundrum.imposed.by.guidelines.2(c).and.2(d).in.submitting.a.revised.interim.report..The.public.outcry,.predominantly.in.the.Southwest.Nova.Scotia.ridings,.demonstrated.that.the.revised.interim.report.did.not.reflect.the.will.of.the.people..The.decree.by.the.Attorney.General.left.no.middle.ground.for.compromise..Any.trade-off.suggested.or.accepted.by.the.citizens.in.the.protected.ridings.would.effectively.condone.the.disappearance.of.their.ridings,.and.would.not.be.compromise.but.political.suicide.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 13
I.honestly.submit.that.if.this.perceived.abuse.of.the.impartial,.non-partisan.electoral.boundary.review.process.continues.unchecked,.it.will.require.full-scale.parliamentary.reform.to.get.it.back.on.track.
In.closing,.I.again.make.reference.to.the.words.of.author.John.C..Courtney,.who.in.his.book.Commissioned Ridings: Designing Canada’s Electoral Districts.was.helpful.in.my.understanding.of.the.issues.related.to.boundary.review..I.quote.a.passage.that.summarizes.well.my.frame.of.mind.as.I.write.this.dissenting.position.from.the.other.Commission.members..Courtney.states:
The uniqueness of Canada’s process of readjusting electoral boundaries is an obvious and consistent theme in the court decisions. That is also true of the value that the courts have attached to the concepts of effective representation and relative parity of voting power. Both of those principles have, through the courts’ generous interpretation of the charter’s guarantee of the right to vote, emerged in little more than a decade as basic to designing constituencies in Canada. (p. 152)
Finally,.my.conscience.and.my.judgment.will.not.allow.me.to.recommend.the.elimination.of.the.protected.constituencies..I.therefore.dissent.from.the.other.Commission.members.who.felt.legally.compelled.to.recommend.the.elimination.of.the.three.protected.Acadian.constituencies.in.the.Final.Report.
I.formally.and.firmly.stand.by.the.recommendation.in.the.Commission’s.Interim.Report.to.maintain.the.constituencies.of.Clare,.Argyle,.Preston,.and.Richmond.as.they.are.presently.designed.
14 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Electoral Redistribution in Nova Scotia: Key Issues and Challenges
The.electoral.redistribution.process,.undertaken.in.Nova.Scotia.by.independent.electoral.boundary.commissions.since.1992,.is.fraught.with.a.number.of.challenges,.some.of.which.are.unique.to.Nova.Scotia.while.others.are.of.a.more.general.nature.
The.general.purpose.of.redrawing.electoral.boundaries.is.to.ensure.that.political.constituencies.continue.to.reflect.the.constitutional.right.of.all.citizens.to.effective.representation.in.the.legislature..This.includes.the.principle.of.relative.parity.of.voting.power,.but.this.is.not.the.only.factor.to.be.taken.into.account.in.ensuring.effective.representation..On.this.matter,.it.is.worth.quoting.from.the.Supreme.Court’s.decision.in.the.Carter.case.(1991).
Notwithstanding the fact that the value of a citizen’s vote should not be unduly diluted, it is a practical fact that effective representation often cannot be achieved without taking into account countervailing factors. First, absolute parity is impossible. It is impossible to draw boundary lines which guarantee exactly the same number of voters in each district . . . Secondly, such relative parity as may be possible of achievement may prove undesirable because it has the effect of detracting from the primary goal of effective representation. Factors like geography, community history, community interests and minority representation may need to be taken into account to ensure that our legislative assemblies effectively represent the diversity of our social mosaic. These are but examples of considerations which may justify departure from absolute voter parity in the pursuit of more effective representation; the list is not closed . . . Respect for individual dignity and social equality mandate that citizens’ votes not be unduly debased or diluted. But the need to recognize cultural and group identity and to enhance the participation of individuals in the electoral process and society requires that other concerns also be accommodated . . . (excerpted from pages 8–17 of the Supreme Court’s Carter decision, re Provincial Electoral Boundaries (Sask.), [1991] 2 S.C.R. 158)
In.terms.of.factors.unique.to.the.province,.its.particular.geography.and.the.dispersion.of.its.population.across.that.geography.are.key.challenges.faced.by.the.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission..Nova.Scotia.is.a.peninsular.province.with.a.major.island.at.its.northeastern-most.extension..As.a.result,.it.has.a.very.long.coastline.near.which.most.of.the.population.resides,.although.very.unevenly.with.long.expanses.of.coastline.that.are.relatively.unpopulated..This.is.true.as.well.for.large.areas.of.the.interior.of.the.province,.particularly.in.its.southwestern.and.northeastern.portions..Most.rural.areas.of.Nova.Scotia.have.experienced.population.decline.over.the.past.several.decades,.as.has.Cape.Breton.Regional.Municipality..However,.significant.population.growth.has.occurred.in.the.greater.Halifax.area..The.province’s.geography.and.settlement.pattern,.the.long-term.population.decline.of.many.rural.communities,.and.the.greater.concentration.of.population.in.the.province’s.main.urban.area.(HRM).suggests.the.necessity.for.some.seat.redistribution,.while.working.within.the.constraints.imposed.by.the.geographic.dispersion.of.population.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 15
Another.important.set.of.factors.in.the.redistribution.process.is.community history, interest, and identity..Nova.Scotia.communities.have.deep.historical.roots,.most.dating.back.to.the.18th.and.early.19th.centuries..Community.identities.are.further.reinforced.by.immigration.and.settlement.patterns.that.often.had.a.distinctive.ethno-religious.dimension,.and.for.most.of.the.province,.relatively.little.by.way.of.more.recent.waves.of.immigration..This.strong.sense.of.distinctive.community.identity.and.interest.has.been.compounded.by.the.relative.geographic.isolation.of.many.rural.locales.and.the.resource-based.nature.of.their.economies..As.well,.unlike.the.case.for.many.provinces,.these.communities.have.enjoyed.a.long.and.robust.tradition.of.autonomous.local.government.at.the.county.and.municipal.level.that.extends.back.to.the.colonial.era.before.Confederation..These.deeply.rooted.communities.of.interest.and.identity.are.an.important.part.of.Nova.Scotia’s.heritage.as.well.as.its.current.political.reality,.and.they.should.be.recognized.to.the.greatest.extent.possible.in.the.boundary.redrawing.process.
Last.but.certainly.not.least,.ensuring.effective.representation.while.accommodating.a.concern.for.cultural diversity and minority representation is.an.important.consideration,.one.that.is.made.more.difficult.by.the.fragmented.territorial.dispersal.of.key.minority.populations..In.the.context.of.the.simple.plurality.(first-past-the-post).electoral.system.used.throughout.Canada.that.groups.electors.into.single-member.constituencies,.minorities.that.are.widely.dispersed.rather.than.territorially.concentrated.are.at.risk.of.political.under-representation.(in.terms.of.having.one.of.their.number.elected.to.office)..Of.particular.note.in.Nova.Scotia.is.that.its.historic.French-speaking.Acadian.population.is.concentrated.in.a.number.of.rural.communities.located.at.the.geographic.extremities.of.the.province..Also,.its.African.Nova.Scotian.community,.which.itself.dates.back.to.the.origins.of.the.province.in.the.18th.century,.is.widely.dispersed,.though.in.relative.terms.there.is.a.concentration.of.population.in.and.around.the.area.of.Preston,.on.the.Dartmouth.side.of.Halifax.Harbour.
Voter Parity versus Effective Representation
The.relative.parity.of.voting.power.of.individual.Nova.Scotians,.achieved.through.constituencies.of.equal.size.in.terms.of.the.number.of.electors,.is.an.important.part.of.the.effective.representation.of.all.Nova.Scotians.in.the.legislature..The.Commission.is.recommending.boundary.changes.that.will.ensure.that.Nova.Scotia’s.electoral.districts.continue.to.adhere.to.this.principle.to.the.extent.possible,.as.described.in.the.Commission’s.terms.of.reference..In.this.connection,.despite.the.challenges.posed.by.Nova.Scotia’s.geography.and.population.distribution,.all.of.the.province’s.geographic.regions.fall.within.a.15.per.cent.variance.from.equal.electoral.population.(see.Table.5:.Existing.and.Proposed.Average.Seat.Entitlement,.by.Region)..Electoral.populations.in.31.constituencies.fall.within.±15.per.cent.variance:.22.constituencies.fall.within.±10.per.cent.variance..In.some.instances,.achieving.greater.voter.parity.required.crossing.municipal.or.county.boundaries.
However,.a.number.of.proposed.constituencies.fall.within.the.higher.range.of.variance.from.parity.(>15.per.cent).that.is.allowable.under.the.terms.of.reference..Those.that.fall.below.−15.per.cent.tend.
16 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
to.be.geographically.large.and.sparsely.populated.rural.constituencies,.while.those.above.+15.per.cent.are.more.compact.and.densely.populated.urban.districts..[Note: exceptions to this generalization are the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) constituencies of Hammonds Plains-Lucasville, where for reasons of geography, community of interest and identity, and the virtual certainty of continued rapid growth, the Commission drew boundaries that left this district at −23 per cent, and Dartmouth-Preston, where elector numbers are low for reasons of sensitivity to cultural diversity and minority representation.].Based.on.its.own.assessment.of.the.requirements.for.effective.representation.in.each.district.(using.the.various.factors.discussed.above),.as.well.as.submissions.to.the.Commission.through.its.public.consultation.process,.the.Commission.has.used.the.maximum.allowable.variance.from.voter.parity.where.this.was.clearly.required.to.ensure.effective.representation.for.the.affected.population.
Rural–urban.differences.was.the.concern.that.arose.most.often.in.both.the.Commission’s.analysis.and.in.the.public.consultation.process,.particularly.with.regard.to.the.physical.distance.that.many.elected.rural.representatives.had.to.travel.to.effectively.represent.their.constituents.(or,.conversely,.that.their.constituents.had.to.travel.to.access.their.representatives)..A.second.major.difference.concerned.the.greater.scope.of.representation.required.of.rural.members.of.the.legislature,.especially.regarding.the.issue.of.road.repairs.and.other.public.services.that.tend.to.be.provided.by.municipal.governments.in.urban.areas..As.a.result,.the.Commission.has.erred.on.the.side.of.somewhat.higher.numbers.of.electors.in.urban.districts.and.somewhat.lower.numbers.in.rural.areas..Yet.it.should.be.noted.that.where.factors.such.as.geography.and.community.interest.and.identity.suggested.only.minor.or.no.deviance.from.voter.parity,.the.proposed.electoral.boundaries.of.both.rural.and.urban.constituencies.reflect.this.congruence.
As.well,.given.the.weight.of.public.input,.and.after.much.deliberation,.the.Commission.adopted.the.position.that.it.would.not.attempt.to.systematically.“build-in”.or.anticipate.future.population.changes.in.the.electoral.redistribution.process.(though.consideration.was.made.in.the.case.of.Hammonds.Plains-Lucasville,.as.noted.earlier)..Its.proposed.boundaries.are.based.solely.on.population.statistics.drawn.from.the.2011.census..While.this.is.likely.to.continue.the.long-standing.situation.whereby.the.distribution.of.provincial.electoral.districts.tends.to.lag.somewhat.behind.actual.population.movements.within.the.province,.the.Commission.is.of.the.opinion.that.this.modest.delay.in.translating.population.movement.to.seat.redistribution.is.warranted..It.helps.to.cushion.the.long-term.shift.of.population.and.political.representation.from.rural.to.urban.areas.that.is.an.almost.universal.phenomenon,.happening.not.only.in.Nova.Scotia.but.throughout.Canada.and.the.world.
Number of Seats in the House of Assembly
The.Commission.considered.whether,.and.to.what.extent,.a.reduction.in.seats.would.be.practical.from.a.political,.administrative,.and.geographic.perspective..It.was.cognizant.of.the.central.importance.of.effective.political.representation.and.mindful.of.the.demands.of.the.Westminster.parliamentary.system.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 17
in.terms.of.providing.sufficient.numbers.of.members.to.draw.upon.in.order.to.make.possible.the.formation.of.a.capable.government.and.an.adequate.opposition..It.also.took.into.account.that.significant.seat.reduction.would.see.some.rural.constituencies.becoming.more.unwieldy.in.terms.of.geographic.size.and.raise.concerns.about.fair.and.effective.representation.
There.were.a.number.of.presentations.to.the.Commission.advocating.a.reduction.in.the.number.of.seats.in.the.House.of.Assembly.(though.even.more.expressed.satisfaction.with.the.current.number.of.seats)..Many.of.them.made.reference.to.the.reduction.in.HRM.council.seats.recently.mandated.by.the.Nova.Scotia.Utility.and.Review.Board.(UARB)..They.argued.that.this.should.be.a.model.or.template.followed.by.the.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.and.applied.to.all.of.Nova.Scotia..After.the.reduction.in.HRM.municipal.districts.from.23.to.16,.the.average.number.of.electors.is.18,778..If.this.were.the.average.for.all.provincial.constituencies,.the.total.number.of.provincial.electoral.districts.would.be.43,.a.reduction.of.9.from.the.current.52..One.rationale.offered.by.proponents.for.a.reduction.in.seats.was.that.it.makes.sense.to.use.the.same.boundaries.for.all.levels.of.government.(though.this.would.apply.only.to.Halifax)..However,.the.most.common.reason.advanced.for.fewer.seats.was.the.notion.that.this.would.reduce.the.size.of.government,.which.was.seen.to.be.either.a.good.thing.in.itself,.or.because.it.would.lessen.the.burden.on.taxpayers..The.Commission.considered.all.of.these.points.but.remained.unconvinced.that.they.were.of.sufficient.concern.or.validity.to.justify.a.recommendation.to.significantly.reduce.the.number.of.legislators.in.the.House.of.Assembly.
While.the.reduction.in.the.size.of.both.the.HRM.and.CBRM.(Cape.Breton.Regional.Municipality).municipal.councils.is.consistent.with.the.goal.of.good.governance,.given.the.structure.and.processes.of.municipal.government,.these.considerations.are.very.different.for.the.provincial.legislature..Canada.by.most.measures.is.the.most.decentralized.federation—with.the.most.powerful,.sovereign,.and.autonomous.sub-national.governments—among.all.OECD.(developed).countries..This.is.reflected.in.the.unusually.broad.scope.of.the.jurisdiction.wielded.by.its.provinces.(including.responsibility.for.municipalities)..Because.the.province.is.the.level.of.government.primarily.responsible.for.providing.most.public.and.social.services.to.Nova.Scotians,.it.is.crucial.that.electors.have.representation.in.the.legislature.that.is.adequate.to.the.needs.of.Nova.Scotia’s.parliamentary.form.of.democracy..In.particular,.Nova.Scotians.must.have.the.capacity.to.hold.their.government.accountable.for.its.policies,.programs,.and.governance.practices..This.is.the.essence.of.the.“effective.representation”.that.the.Supreme.Court.of.Canada.identifies.as.the.right.of.all.Canadian.citizens.
While.the.Commission.respects.the.views.of.those.who.argued.that.fewer.elected.representatives.would.not.detract.from.effective.representation.for.Nova.Scotians,.it.does.not.share.this.point.of.view..Furthermore,.no.submission.on.this.issue.demonstrated.that.the.cost.benefit.to.be.derived.from.fewer.representatives.in.the.legislature.justified.the.reduced.representation.that.would.be.entailed..In.fact,.the.actual.cost.of.maintaining.a.legislator,.relative.to.the.overall.cost.of.government,.is.vanishingly.small..Also.of.concern.to.the.Commission.was.the.tendency.to.conflate.or.equate.the.legislature.with.“government,”.as.some.submissions.advocating.reduced.seats.tended.to.do..This.essentially.confuses.two.distinctly.different.parts.of.the.political.system.that.serve.different.purposes.in.a.democracy..The.
18 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
legislature.is.not.part.of.the.government,.but.instead.the.main.means.available.to.the.people.to.exert.popular.influence.or.control.over.the.political.executive.(Premier.and.cabinet),.who.in.turn.are.charged.with.managing.the.government,.comprising.mainly.the.various.bureaucratic.and.administrative.agencies.of.the.state.
The.Commission.concluded.that.no.significant.reduction.in.the.number.of.seats.in.the.House.of.Assembly.is.warranted.and.that.any.recommendation.on.its.part.to.do.so.would.seriously.compromise.the.capacity.of.the.legislature.to.provide.effective.representation.to.all.Nova.Scotians.
Minority Representation and Protected Constituencies
The.problem.of.ensuring.effective.representation.for.minority.populations.that.are.not.territorially.concentrated.is.a.vexing.one..Indeed,.the.working.of.the.electoral.system.makes.it.unlikely.that.a.territorially.fragmented.minority.population.(such.as.the.Acadians.or.African.Nova.Scotians).will.succeed.in.electing.one.of.their.community.members.to.represent.them.in.the.legislature..As.previously.indicated,.to.some.extent.this.bias.in.the.electoral.system.was.overcome.in.Nova.Scotia.(at.least.over.the.past.20.years).by.protecting.selected.ridings.from.redistribution.based.on.voter.parity.in.order.to.encourage.minority.representation.in.the.legislature..Under.its.legally.binding.terms.of.reference,.the.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.is.no.longer.able.to.maintain.this.special.dispensation.for.four.protected.constituencies..Given.this.reality,.are.there.alternative.ways.to.address.the.representation.needs.of.the.special.populations.that.have.been.protected.in.the.last.two.boundary.drawing.exercises?
Four Administrative Districts
One.means.suggested.to.the.Commission.as.a.way.to.ensure.representation.in.the.legislature.for.the.Acadian.and.African.Nova.Scotian.minorities.is.the.idea.of.“at-large.seats”.or.“administrative.districts”.to.be.determined.by.ballots.cast.from.separate.voter.lists..Acadian.and.African.Nova.Scotian.voters.would.have.a.choice:.they.could.cast.their.ballot.for.a.constituency.representative.or.vote.for.a.candidate.contesting.one.of.several.designated.“at-large”.seats..It.was.suggested.to.the.Commission.that.there.be.three.designated.Acadian.seats.(one.each.for.Southwest.Nova.Scotia,.Mainland.Nova.Scotia,.and.Cape.Breton).and.one.African.Nova.Scotian.seat..Accomplishing.this.would.require.the.compilation.of.four.additional.voter.lists,.one.for.each.of.these.designated.seats..It.was.suggested.that.these.be.compiled.through.voluntary.subscription.
The.Commission,.after.considering.this.suggestion,.decided.that.it.could.not.positively.recommend.it,.for.several.reasons..The.compilation.of.several.alternative.voter.lists,.the.voluntary.nature.of.voter.subscription.to.these.lists,.and.the.need.to.ensure.no.overlap.between.each.of.these.lists.(as.well.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 19
as.the.general.list).would.present.a.considerable.administrative.burden.and.challenge..Second,.the.voluntary.nature.of.the.lists.and.the.voter.option.to.instead.remain.on.constituency.voter.lists.would.likely.mean.very.small.electorates.for.these.seats.relative.to.the.average.number.of.electors.in.constituencies,.even.compared.to.the.number.of.electors.in.the.four.currently.protected.ridings..As.well,.removing.some.or.most.minority.voters.from.their.territorial.constituencies.would.virtually.guarantee.that.that.those.constituencies.would.return.a.non-minority.representative,.who.would.be.elected.by.a.reduced.(perhaps.significantly.so).number.of.electors..Indeed,.it.is.possible.that.both.certain.territorial.constituencies.and.the.at-large.ridings.would.have.fewer.than.the.required.minimum.number.of.electors..Third,.this.proposal.would.require.increasing.the.number.of.seats.in.the.legislature.above.the.maximum.of.52.as.directed.in.the.Commission’s.terms.of.reference..Fourth,.the.non-exclusivity.of.legislative.representation.that.would.inevitably.result.from.four.at-large.seats.would.mean.that.some.voters.would.enjoy.a.form.of.double.representation.in.the.legislature,.since.voters.for.these.seats.also.would.continue.to.reside.in.one.of.the.non-designated.constituencies.represented.by.an.elected.MLA.
Finally,.there.was.a.general.concern.on.the.part.of.Commissioners.that.departing.from.the.parliamentary.tradition.of.territorially.based.representation.might.have.unforeseen.consequences.for.the.effective.functioning.of.the.legislature..Under.some.circumstances,.it.could.raise.questions.about.the.legitimacy.of.the.designated.seat-holders.to.speak.on.behalf.of.the.communities.they.claimed.to.represent..It.could.stimulate.demands.from.other.groups.not.so.favoured,.that.they.too.should.have.their.specific.group.interest.and.identity.represented.in.the.legislature..Representative.democracy.as.practised.in.Nova.Scotia.has.been.based.on.the.principle.that.elected.members.of.the.legislative.assembly.have.the.mandate.and.responsibility.to.represent.all.their.constituents,.without.bias.or.prejudice.based.on.political,.cultural,.racial,.or.other.differentiating.characteristics..While.this.form.of.representation.certainly.has.not.been.without.flaws.in.its.operation,.at.this.time.the.Commission.is.not.willing.to.recommend.an.alternative.basis.of.political.representation.in.the.Legislative.Assembly.
A Designated Acadian Seat
The.history.of.the.Acadians.is.one.of.the.great.stories.of.tragedy.and.redemption.in.western.civilization..Their.expulsion.from.Nova.Scotia.from.1755.to.1760.(le.Grand.Dérangement).was.one.of.the.early.instances.of.“ethnic.cleansing”.in.the.western.world..Acadians.were.deprived.of.their.homes.and.property,.families.were.rent.asunder,.and.many.lives.were.lost.during.transit.to.regions.far.from.the.Acadian.homeland..That.some.Acadians.were.able.to.return.and.re-establish.themselves.as.minority.communities.in.Nova.Scotia.and.New.Brunswick,.against.improbable.odds,.has.become.the.central.touchstone.of.Acadian.history.and.identity..Nova.Scotian.Acadians.today.represent.not.only.the.remnants.of.the.Acadian.diaspora.returned.to.the.region,.but.an.internal.diaspora.as.well,.forced.into.a.fragmented.and.peripheralized.geography.of.settlement.within.the.province.by.the.alienation.of.their.ancestral.lands.and.by.their.marginalized.political.status..This.diasporic.geography.is.particularly.
20 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
unsuited.to.effective.political.representation.in.the.House.of.Assembly.under.the.first-past-the-post.electoral.system..So,.while.in.New.Brunswick.their.greater.numbers.and.relative.geographic.concentration.has.enabled.the.Acadian.community.to.attain.a.political,.cultural,.and.linguistic.status.of.equality.with.the.anglophone.majority,.in.their.traditional.homeland.of.Nova.Scotia—again.because.of.numbers.and.geography—they.are.today.poised.on.the.knife-edge.of.assimilation.
Considered.in.this.context,.the.loss.of.the.protected.Acadian.seats.can.be.perceived.as.a.further.reduction.in.the.means.and.instruments.available.to.Nova.Scotia’s.Acadians.to.protect.their.fragile.linguistic.and.cultural.position.within.the.province..Under.these.circumstances,.some.compensatory.measure.to.ensure.French-speaking,.Acadian.representation.in.the.legislature.seems.both.reasonable.and.appropriate..The.problem.is.the.difficulty.of.accomplishing.this.within.the.Boundary.Commission’s.terms.of.reference,.which.forbid.the.small.districts.(a.form.of.affirmative.gerrymandering).that.over.the.past.20.years.made.the.three.protected.Acadian.seats.possible.
A.modest.alternative,.though.not.unproblematic,.would.be.for.the.Nova.Scotia.Legislature.to.designate.a.single.seat.in.the.House.of.Assembly.to.be.chosen.by.using.the.existing.balloting.procedures.for.the.election.of.members.to.the.Acadian.school.board,.the.Conseil.scolaire.acadien.provincial.(CSAP)..Voters.who.already.self-identify.as.Acadians/French-speakers.in.order.to.elect.members.of.the.province-wide.school.board.would.simultaneously.constitute.the.electorate.for.this.designated.seat.in.the.House.of.Assembly..In.effect,.a.new.provincial.constituency.would.be.created.that.would.constitute.the.52nd.seat.in.the.legislature,.consistent.with.the.limits.imposed.by.the.terms.of.reference..The.individual.chosen.to.represent.this.52nd.electoral.district.would.have.the.same.voting.rights.and.privileges.as.the.other.elected.members.of.the.legislature..Presumably,.candidates.from.each.of.the.major.political.parties,.as.well.as.independent.candidates,.would.contest.this.seat.
While.this.proposal.would.satisfy.some.of.the.legitimate.representational.concerns.and.clear.some.of.the.present.legal.obstacles.that.hinder.the.previous.proposal.for.four.administrative.districts,.there.is.still.a.reasonable.objection.that.can.be.raised.on.voter.equality.grounds:.since.electors.would.have.the.option.to.cast.a.ballot.in.both.the.general.election.and.the.CSAP.electoral.process,.they.effectively.would.exercise.a.double.franchise.by.participating.in.the.election.of.two.different.MLAs..It.should.be.noted,.however,.that.in.voter.parity.terms,.the.“weight”.of.a.ballot.for.the.provincial.Acadian.seat.would.be.less.than.the.equivalent.of.a.second.vote..With.approximately.35,000.Nova.Scotians.who.claim.French.as.their.home.language,.any.ballot.cast.in.a.single,.province-wide.Acadian.electoral.district.would.have.approximately.one-third.the.weight.of.a.regular.constituency.ballot..This.additional.voting.weight.could.be.viewed.as.a.form.of.“political.insurance”.for.Acadians,.since.it.would.guarantee.them.a.minimum.of.one.distinctively.Acadian.voice.in.the.legislature..Further,.it.would.recognize.the.shared.cultural.and.linguistic.concerns.of.all.Acadians.and.minority.French-speakers,.regardless.of.where.they.live.in.the.province..Finally,.in.a.modest.way.it.would.constitute.symbolic.recognition.of.the.unique.and.important.place.of.the.Acadian.people.in.the.history.of.Nova.Scotia,.the.province.that.is.their.ancestral.homeland.and.the.cradle.of.Acadian.culture.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 21
Recommendation
Problems and reasonable objections remain even with this more limited proposal.
Within the Commission, there was not full agreement about its merit. Since
special legislation would have to be passed to enact it (or any other proposal of a
similar nature), the Commission suggests that the House of Assembly take it under
advisement in order to air and debate the various issues more fully. The Commission
is also of the opinion that the legislature should establish a process for consulting
with key minority groups, in particular the Acadian and African Nova Scotian
communities, for the purpose of determining alternative means for achieving fair
and effective minority representation in the House of Assembly.
Electoral System Reform
Though.it.is.not.part.of.the.Commission’s.mandate.to.study.electoral.reform.or.to.recommend.changes.to.the.current.electoral.system,.there.were.a.number.of.submissions.on.this.topic.in.the.public.consultation.process..Reforming.the.first-past-the-post.(FPTP).electoral.system.was.suggested.as.a.means.of.improving.Nova.Scotia’s.representative.democracy,.by.more.accurately.translating.voter.preferences.into.seats.in.the.legislature..The.distortions.introduced.by.the.current.system,.whereby.only.one.member.can.be.elected.per.constituency,.with.no.allowance.made.for.popular.vote.totals,.can.be.a.disincentive.to.political.participation..This.happens.because.all.votes.for.losing.candidates.are,.in.effect,.“thrown.out,”.and.only.those.cast.for.the.winning.candidate.in.each.riding.count.in.terms.of.electing.a.representative..Some.element.of.proportional.representation.is.recommended.as.a.means.to.“make.every.vote.count.”
Another.rationale.for.electoral.system.reform.concerns.the.difficulty.of.ensuring.minority.representation.under.the.FPTP.system..As.noted.above,.this.has.become.clear.in.the.current.electoral.redistribution.process.with.regard.to.Acadian.and.African.Nova.Scotian.representation..The.same.point.could.be.made.for.the.small.number.of.women.elected.to.the.legislature..Comparative.literature.on.this.topic.clearly.shows.that.political.systems.using.some.form.of.proportional.representation.perform.better.than.FPTP.systems.in.terms.of.minority.and.female.representation.in.elected.legislatures..The.use.of.party.lists,.quotas,.designated.seats,.and.other.mechanisms.in.proportional.systems.largely.accounts.for.these.differences..As.well,.the.dynamics.of.the.system,.which.tend.toward.coalition.building,.would.promote.more.co-operation.and.accommodation.among.parties.in.terms.of.the.legislative.agenda.
There.appear.to.be.significant.democratic.benefits.to.be.gained.from.incorporating.some.measure.of.proportional.representation.into.the.current.FPTP.electoral.system..This.no.doubt.explains.why.this.
22 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
option.has.been.recommended.by.commissions.and.assemblies.in.a.number.of.provinces.over.the.past.decade..The.most.popular.recommendation.in.Canada.has.been.to.replace.the.FPTP.electoral.system.with.some.form.of.mixed-member.proportional.(MMP).system,.which.combines.some.of.the.advantages.of.the.existing.single-member.constituencies.with.greater.proportionality.
Recommendation
The Commission is aware that the serious consideration and recommendation of
alternative electoral systems is beyond its mandate. It is also cognizant that the
adoption of a new electoral system represents a dramatic change to one of Nova
Scotia’s key political institutions. It therefore suggests that the Nova Scotia Legislature
initiate a process involving both extensive critical examination and public
consultation on the current electoral system as well as possible alternatives to it.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 23
Population and Electoral Data
The.Commission.examined.population.and.electoral.statistics.to.determine.trends.and.changes.over.the.last.decade..The.most.noticeable.trend.was.that.population.is.growing.in.and.around.Halifax.Regional.Municipality.and.declining.essentially.everywhere.else.in.the.province.
Seat entitlement.is.a.measure.of.the.relative.parity.of.voting.power.in.a.given.constituency.(see.Table.1)..Seat.entitlement.calculations.vary.depending.on.whether.population.figures.or.the.number.of.electors.are.used..Consistent.with.past.practice,.the.Commission.used.the.number.of.electors—those.Canadian.citizens.over.the.age.of.18.and.therefore.eligible.to.vote—as.the.basis.for.its.distribution.calculations..and.recommendations.
Elections.Nova.Scotia.provided.technical.support,.particularly.through.making.its.GIS.technology.available.to.the.Commission..This.technology.enabled.the.Commission.to.calculate.voter.numbers.in.the.various.redistribution.scenarios.that.were.evaluated.for.the.purpose.of.eliminating.and.narrowing.seat.entitlement.gaps..The.value.of.this.tool.in.providing.fast.and.accurate.results.cannot.be.overstated..(See.Appendix.K.for.elaboration.on.data.sources.)
24 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
The.House.of.Assembly.Act.requires.the.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.to.conduct.two.rounds.of.public.meetings,.before.and.after.preparing.a.preliminary.report..Beginning.in.mid-March,.we.set.out.on.the.first.round.to.visit.13.different.communities.across.the.province..Our.role.was.to.listen.to.concerns.about,.and.proposed.changes.to,.the.current.electoral.boundaries;.to.explain.the.Commission’s.terms.of.reference;.and.to.direct.attention.to.key.issues.relating.to.the.terms.of.reference.
It.is.not.surprising.that.attendance.and.participation.at.these.meetings.was.highest.where.there.was.concern.about.the.protected.constituencies.and.the.prospect.of.losing.their.established.boundaries..In.other.constituencies,.we.heard.about.difficulties.with.boundary.lines.that.cut.across.communities.of.interest.or.were.otherwise.awkwardly.placed..These.public.contributions.became.part.of.the.material.we.used.to.prepare.our.Interim.Report.(see.Appendix.B,.first.round.public.meeting.schedule,.and.Appendix.I,.summary.of.comments)..A.total.of.130.individuals.made.presentations.during.the.first.round.of.public.meetings.
Public.response.to.the.Revised.Interim.Report.during.the.second.round.of.meetings.(nine.in.all).was.considerably.greater..This.time,.there.was.heated.reaction.to.the.changes.we.had.proposed.to.accommodate.population.shifts.and.to.move.boundaries.of.the.four.protected.constituencies.to.bring.their.voter.numbers.up.to.at.least.75.per.cent.of.the.provincial.average..We.met.passion,.enthusiasm,.anger,.and.cynicism..Some.speakers.called.for.fewer.seats;.some.called.for.more..Many.condemned.the.emphasis.on.numbers.and.the.use.of.a.simplistic.arithmetic.exercise.to.meet.relative.parity.of.voting.power..Some.clearly.regarded.us.as.a.Halifax-centred.instrument.of.a.government.out.to.destroy.selected.parts.of.the.province..Often,.we.were.extended.sympathy.for.taking.on.an.impossible.task..Almost.always,.however,.we.were.in.the.company.of.a.seriously.constructive,.respectful.and.genial.public.interested.in.being.part.of.the.democratic.process.(see.Appendix.C,.second.round.meeting.schedule,.and.Appendix.I,.summary.of.comments)..A.total.of.156.individuals.made.presentations.during.the.second.round.of.public.meetings.
Increased.attendance.and.greater.participation.in.the.second.round.of.public.hearings.also.had.the.positive.effect.of.providing.the.Commission.with.new.and.useful.information..We.were.convinced.that.the.results.of.the.first.round.did.not.warrant.the.time.and.cost.of.travelling.across.the.province.to.visit.13.communities..We.were.not.surprised.by.the.scant.response;.we.couldn’t.expect.to.find.high.interest.in.the.process.of.redistributing.electoral.boundaries.if.people.were.unaware.of.a.problem..There.had.to.be.an.immediate.threat.of.unwelcome.change,.or.an.irritant.in.the.current.situation..That.is.what.brought.people.out.in.a.few.communities.for.the.first.round,.and.in.all.locations.for.the.second.round..They.were.moved.to.strongly.resist.a.proposed.change,.or.to.suggest.an.improvement.in.the.direction.of.proposed.boundary.lines.in.places.they.knew.well..Although.it.was.impossible.for.the.Commission.to.accommodate.all.of.their.concerns,.we.were.left.with.a.rich.store.of.helpful.information.to.consider.for.the.final.placement.of.boundary.lines.
Our.experience.with.the.public.consultation.process.prompts.us.to.suggest.a.better.way..Specifically,.an.invitation.to.the.first.round.of.public.hearings.needs.a.commanding.reason.why.the.public.might.
The Public Consultation Process
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 25
become.interested.enough.to.respond..We.suggest.that.the.reason.would.be.an.initial.draft.of.proposed.boundary.changes..The.draft.would.be.constructed.by.the.Commission.on.the.basis.of.population.shifts.derived.from.new.census.data,.and.on.its.assigned.terms.of.reference..The.proposed.changes.would.serve.as.a.solid.base.for.public.response.through.the.first.round.of.hearings.and.through.other.means.of.public.input..This.opportunity.would.increase.and.enrich.the.information.available.to.the.Commission.as.it.prepares.an.interim.report..It.would.likely.increase.public.understanding.of.what.is.required.to.ensure.relative.parity.of.voting.power..And.it.would.likely.mean.that.the.second.round.of.hearings/submissions.would.further.refine.information.required.for.a.highly.credible.final.report.on.electoral.boundaries.
Recommendation
The House of Assembly Act determines the method of engaging the public through
two rounds of public meetings, before and after preparing a preliminary report. The
Commission believes that the consultation process would be strengthened by having
a draft of proposed boundary changes made public prior to the first round of public
meetings. It therefore suggests that the Nova Scotia Legislature modify the House
of Assembly Act requiring a draft of proposed boundary changes be made public by
the Boundaries Commission before the first round of public meetings, followed by a
preliminary report before the second round of public meetings.
Apart.from.the.public.meetings,.we.used.other.means.to.be.open.to.the.public..The.Commission’s.website.(http://www.nselectoralboundaries.ca/).provided.basic.information.about.our.purpose.and.procedure,.including.transcripts.of.each.of.the.public.meetings..French.interpretation.services.were.provided.at.both.rounds.of.the.public.meetings.in.Halifax.and.Church.Point./.Pointe-de-l’Église.and.at.the.meetings.in.Louisdale,.Port.Hawkesbury,.and.Tusket..As.well,.we.received.close.to.1200.submissions.and.comments.through.e-mails,.posted.mail,.phone.calls.and.personal.delivery.(see.Appendices.F,.G,.and.H.for.lists.of.written.submissions).
26 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Table 1: 2001 and 2011 Electors and Seat Entitlements for Existing Electoral Constituencies
Constituency 2001 2011
Electors Seat Entitlement Electors Seat
Entitlement(4) (1) (1, 3) (2) (3)
Annapolis 14,321 1.08 13,925 1.02
Antigonish 14,522 1.09 14,769 1.08
Argyle 6,718 0.50 6,419 0.47
Bedford-Birch Cove 15,944 1.20 21,133 1.54
Cape Breton Centre 12,168 0.91 11,203 0.82
Cape Breton North 13,825 1.04 12,612 0.92
Cape Breton Nova 11,107 0.83 10,045 0.73
Cape Breton South 14,804 1.11 15,444 1.13
Cape Breton West 15,026 1.13 14,399 1.05
Chester-St. Margaret’s 14,892 1.12 15,977 1.17
Clare 7,337 0.55 6,531 0.48
Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley 13,649 1.02 13,640 1.00
Colchester North 13,270 1.00 13,879 1.01
Cole Harbour 15,355 1.15 15,084 1.10
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage 11,477 0.86 12,710 0.93
Cumberland North 13,707 1.03 14,013 1.02
Cumberland South 11,662 0.88 10,233 0.75
Dartmouth East 15,279 1.15 14,608 1.07
Dartmouth North 15,421 1.16 15,512 1.13
Dartmouth South-Portland Valley 15,777 1.18 19,172 1.40
Digby-Annapolis 10,860 0.82 10,004 0.73
Eastern Shore 10,569 0.79 12,086 0.88
Glace Bay 13,378 1.00 12,236 0.89
Guysborough-Sheet Harbour 10,383 0.78 9,100 0.67
Halifax Atlantic 15,445 1.16 16,289 1.19
Halifax Chebucto 15,280 1.15 14,999 1.10
Halifax Citadel-Sable Island 15,755 1.18 16,593 1.21
Halifax Clayton Park 15,115 1.13 21,886 1.60
Halifax Fairview 15,204 1.14 15,865 1.16
Halifax Needham 15,847 1.19 17,057 1.25
Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville 14,407 1.08 18,122 1.32
Hants East 15,978 1.20 17,300 1.26
Hants West 14,485 1.09 14,650 1.07
Inverness 14,961 1.12 13,641 1.00
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 27
Constituency 2001 2011
Electors Seat Entitlement Electors Seat
Entitlement(4) (1) (1, 3) (2) (3)
Kings North 14,742 1.11 15,096 1.10
Kings South 14,621 1.10 16,099 1.18
Kings West 14,870 1.12 14,614 1.07
Lunenburg 13,782 1.03 13,720 1.00
Lunenburg West 13,783 1.03 14,380 1.05
Pictou Centre 13,251 0.99 12,860 0.94
Pictou East 12,069 0.91 11,803 0.86
Pictou West 11,107 0.83 10,886 0.80
Preston 7,335 0.55 7,593 0.55
Queens 10,534 0.79 9,706 0.71
Richmond 8,060 0.60 7,192 0.53
Sackville-Cobequid 14,980 1.12 14,803 1.08
Shelburne 12,371 0.93 11,210 0.82
Timberlea-Prospect 15,053 1.13 16,662 1.22
Truro-Bible Hill 14,898 1.12 15,656 1.14
Victoria-The Lakes 10,413 0.78 8,930 0.65
Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank 13,490 1.01 16,312 1.19
Yarmouth 13,749 1.03 12,900 0.94
Total 693,040 52 711,558 52
Average 13,328 13,684
(1).Source:.August.2002.Final.Report.of.the.Provincial.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.
(2).Electors.are.defined.as.Canadian.citizens.18.years.of.age.and.older,.based.on.2011.census.data.
(3).Seat.entitlements.(based.on.number.of.electors).are.calculated.by.dividing.the.number.of.electors.in.each.constituency.by.the.provincial.average.of.electors.per.constituency.based.on.52.seats.(e.g.,.711,558/52.=.13,684).
(4).Current.constituency.numbers..
28 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Introduction
The.Commission.has.determined.the.following:
1.. There.should.be.51.members.in.the.House.of.Assembly.
2.. One.constituency.should.be.removed.from.Cape.Breton.and.two.from.mainland.Nova.Scotia.
3.. Two.new.constituencies.are.recommended.for.the.Halifax.area.in.order.to.accommodate.growth.in.the.number.of.electors.on.the.western.side.of.the.harbour;.boundary.adjustments.in.the.remaining.constituencies.are.guided,.to.the.extent.possible,.by.the.goal.of.relative.voter.parity.
While.the.Commission.was.not.bound.by.county.or.municipal.boundaries.in.the.redistribution.process,.they.have.been.used.where.feasible..The.Commission.has.been.diligent.in.working.with,.and.accommodating,.existing.polling.districts,.as.well.as.using.land.features.such.as.highways.and.water.bodies.that.provide.natural.and.workable.separation.of.population.areas.
Regional Overview
Annapolis Valley
The.only.proposed.change.to.the.five.electoral.districts.that.make.up.the.Annapolis.Valley.is.to.expand.the.electoral.district.of.Annapolis.to.include.all.of.Annapolis.County.(excluding.the.Maitland.Bridge.area)..This.was.a.positive.response.to.community.input,.made.possible.by.changes.in.neighbouring.electoral.districts.
Cape Breton Island
Due.to.population.decline.in.Cape.Breton.over.the.past.ten.years,.significant.boundary.adjustments.are.required..At.present,.three.electoral.districts.in.Cape.Breton.fall.below.the.minimum.number.of.electors.needed.in.order.to.be.within.the.mandatory.district.size.of.±25.per.cent.of.the.provincial.average:.Cape.Breton.Nova,.Victoria-The.Lakes,.and.Richmond..In.order.to.bring.all.Cape.Breton.ridings.into.compliance.with.the.allowable.parameters.for.relative.voter.parity.(as.set.out.in.the.Commission’s.terms.of.reference),.it.is.proposed.that.the.number.of.seats.allocated.to.the.Cape.Breton.region.is.reduced.by.one.
The.major.change.proposed.for.urban.Cape.Breton.is.the.creation.of.the.new.riding.of.Sydney.from.major.portions.of.the.existing.ridings.of.Cape.Breton.South.and.Cape.Breton.Nova..Following.public.consultation,.the.northern.boundary.of.the.proposed.constituency.of.Sydney.is.extended.to.include.the.entire.community.of.Whitney.Pier,.which.is.added.to.the.revised.boundary.of.Cape.Breton.South.
Proposed Electoral Redistribution
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 29
It.is.proposed.that.the.southwest.boundary.of.Cape.Breton.Centre.be.extended.to.include.the.portion.of.Cape.Breton.Nova.in.the.South.Bar.area.and.the.boundary.of.Cape.Breton.North.be.extended.to.include.the.Westmount.area.(from.Cape.Breton.South),.with.the.proposed.riding.to.be.renamed.Northside-Westmount.
It.is.proposed.that.Victoria.the.Lakes.be.expanded.to.include.the.Point.Aconi.and.Northside.East.Bay.areas.
It.is.proposed.that.Richmond.be.expanded.south.to.include.the.Town.of.Port.Hawkesbury.(from.Inverness).and.be.expanded.north.into.the.electoral.district.of.Cape.Breton.West,.such.that.the.boundary.between.the.two.districts.becomes.an.east-west.line.along.the.Morley.Road.from.the.Mira.River.to.East.Bay..To.reflect.these.significant.changes,.it.is.proposed.that.the.Richmond.constituency.be.renamed.Cape.Breton-Richmond.
The.southern.boundary.of.Cape.Breton.West,.which.borders.Cape.Breton-Richmond,.has.been.redrawn.to.include.all.the.lands.on.the.south.side.of.the.Mira.River,.extending.to.the.Richmond.County.line..All.of.Grand.Mira.South,.French.Road,.and.Gabarus.would.remain.in.the.constituency.of.Cape.Breton.West..It.would.also.gain.some.additional.areas.on.the.southern.fringes.of.the.former.city.of.Sydney..It.is.proposed.that.Cape.Breton.West.be.renamed.Sydney.River-Mira-Louisbourg.
Fundy Northeast
The.only.proposed.change.to.the.six.electoral.districts.that.make.up.Fundy.Northeast.is.to.expand.Cumberland.South.into.Cumberland.North..This.is.proposed.so.that.Cumberland.South.would.fall.within.the.±25.per.cent.variance.
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)
Since.the.last.boundary.review.in.2002,.population.growth.has.continued.to.increase.in.the.Halifax.Regional.Municipality.(HRM)..In.fact,.five.electoral.districts.in.HRM—Bedford-Birch.Cove,.Dartmouth.South-Portland.Valley,.Halifax.Clayton.Park,.Halifax.Needham,.and.Hammonds.Plains-Upper.Sackville—currently.fall.at.or.above.the.maximum.allowable.number.of.electors.to.stay.within.the.mandatory.electoral.district.size.of.±25.per.cent.of.the.provincial.average..In.order.to.bring.all.of.the.HRM.constituencies.into.compliance.with.the.allowable.parameters.for.relative.voter.parity,.it.is.proposed.that.the.number.of.seats.allocated.to.HRM.be.increased.by.two..Specifically,.two.new.constituencies—Fairview-Clayton.Park.and.Sackville—are.proposed.to.be.added.to.the.Halifax.area.to.accommodate.for.the.significant.growth.in.the.number.of.electors.on.the.western.side.of.the.harbour.
For.the.previously.protected.constituency.of.Preston,.the.Commission.considered.the.impact.that.strict.adherence.to.the.terms.of.reference.will.have.in.attempting.to.achieve.clause.2(d).in.the.Preston.electoral.district.with.limited.options..Following.input.from.the.community,.it.is.proposed.that.the.constituency.extend.westward.into.Dartmouth,.and.be.renamed.Dartmouth-Preston..Proposed.boundary.adjustments.in.the.remaining.constituencies.have.been.guided.by.the.goal.of.relative.voter.parity.to.the.greatest.extent.possible.
30 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Northeastern Nova Scotia
It.is.proposed.that.the.five.electoral.districts.in.northeastern.Nova.Scotia—Antigonish,.Guysborough-Sheet.Harbour,.and.three.in.Pictou.County—be.retained..However,.population.decline.in.the.Guysborough-Sheet.Harbour.electoral.district.has.left.this.riding.below.the.minimum.threshold.for.relative.voter.parity,.requiring.the.redrawing.of.electoral.boundaries.in.this.region.
The.proposed.elimination.of.the.riding.of.Guysborough-Sheet.Harbour.in.the.Revised.Interim.Report.is.abandoned.for.reasons.of.geography.and.community.of.interest,.and.in.response.to.public.input..Instead,.it.is.proposed.that.the.southern.boundary.of.the.riding.at.Sheet.Harbour.be.retained.and.the.northern.boundary.extend.into.Antigonish.County.to.include.all.lands.east.of.the.Tracadie.River..It.is.proposed.that.the.new.constituency—which.includes.Guysborough.County.as.well.as.portions.of.HRM.and.Antigonish.County—be.renamed.East.Nova.
It.is.proposed.that.the.remainder.of.Antigonish.County.(minus.the.portion.east.of.the.Tracadie.River).forms.the.constituency.of.Antigonish..The.constituencies.of.Pictou.East,.Pictou.Centre,.and.Pictou.West.remain.unchanged.
As.a.geographic.region,.Northeastern.Nova.Scotia.is.the.furthest.from.voter.parity.(in.terms.of.average.number.of.electors.per.constituency).in.the.province..Its.relatively.low.numbers.reflect.the.geographic.and.demographic.challenge.posed.by.Guysborough.County.and.the.strong.sense.of.community.history,.interest,.and.identity.in.the.Pictou.and.Antigonish.ridings.
South Shore
The.South.Shore.comprises.three.electoral.districts:.Chester-St..Margaret’s,.Lunenburg,.and.Lunenburg.West..It.is.proposed.that.no.boundary.changes.will.affect.Lunenburg.and.Chester-St..Margaret’s.will.see.only.a.minor.adjustment..It.is.proposed.that.Lunenburg.West.expand.west.to.the.Lunenburg.County.line.and.gain.those.parts.of.Lunenburg.County.in.the.existing.electoral.district.of.Queens.
Southwest Nova Scotia
The.Revised.Interim.Report.left.open.the.manner.in.which.the.boundaries.would.change.in.three.of.the.region’s.electoral.districts:.Clare,.Yarmouth,.and.Argyle..It.specified.that.to.meet.the.Commission’s.terms.of.reference,.boundary.revision.would.be.necessary.in.the.districts.of.Clare.and.Argyle,.where.the.numbers.of.electors.were.insufficient..The.Revised.Interim.Report,.after.listing.five.ways.whereby.the.necessary.change.might.be.achieved,.proposed.two.of.those.ways:.to.extend.the.boundary.of.Clare.into.Yarmouth.County.and.the.boundary.of.Argyle.into.Yarmouth.town.and.a.southwest.portion.of.Yarmouth.County..These.were.soundly.rejected.through.the.Commission’s.public.consultation.processes..The.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 31
remaining.alternatives.were.essentially.disregarded.in.public.submissions..In.short,.all.three.electoral.districts.strongly.opted.to.maintain.the.status.quo.
Yet.the.Commission.is.bound.by.the.terms.of.reference.with.respect.to.the.number.of.electors..It.therefore.proposes.the.following.in.this.Final.Report:
•. That.the.electoral.district.of.Clare.be.merged.with.the.remainder.of.the.County.of.Digby.to.form.a.new.constituency.to.be.named.Clare-Digby.
•. That.the.electoral.district.of.Yarmouth.be.retained.
•. That.the.electoral.district.of.Argyle.be.merged.with.the.district.of.Barrington,.including.Cape.Sable.Island,.to.form.a.new.constituency.to.be.named.Argyle-Barrington..The.Argyle-Barrington.eastern.boundary.is.the.Clyde.River.
•. That.the.electoral.district.of.Shelburne.loses.the.municipal.district.of.Barrington.and.be.merged.with.the.County.of.Queens.to.form.a.new.constituency.to.be.named.Queens-Shelburne.
•. That.the.electoral.district.of.Queens.lose.those.parts.of.Lunenburg.County.currently.in.its.area.to.the.electoral.district.of.Lunenburg.West.and.will.expand.northerly.into.Annapolis.County.to.include.areas.of.Maitland.Bridge.and.neighbouring.communities..It.is.proposed.that.Queens.will.also.merge.with.Shelburne.to.the.border.of.the.Municipality.of.Barrington.
Proposed Changes to Existing Electoral Boundaries, by Constituency
Note: Names in italics are proposed new constituency names.
1.. Annapolis:.Expands.westward.to.gain.the.Annapolis.County.portion.of.Digby-Annapolis,.north.of.the.Maitland.Bridge.area.
2.. Antigonish:.Loses.the.area.east.of.the.Tracadie.River.to.Guysborough-Sheet.Harbour.(East Nova).
3.. Argyle:.Gains.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Barrington.and.the.Town.of.Clark’s.Harbour.from.the.Electoral.District.of.Shelburne..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Argyle-Barrington.
4.. Bedford-Birch Cove:.Loses.the.Kearney.Lake.area.and.the.majority.of.the.Birch.Cove.area.to.Halifax-Clayton.Park.(Clayton Park West)..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Bedford.
5.. Cape Breton Centre:.Expands.southwest.toward.Sydney,.to.include.South.Bar,.Lingan.Road,.and.part.of.Grand.Lake.Road.areas.from.Cape.Breton.Nova.
32 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
6.. Cape Breton North:.Loses.the.area.west.of.Little.Bras.d’Or,.which.includes.Point.Aconi,.to.Victoria-The.Lakes..Expands.southward.to.gain.the.area.north.of.Highway.125,.including.the.Westmount.area,.from.Cape.Breton.South..The.constituency.to.be.renamed.Northside-Westmount.
7.. Cape Breton Nova:.This.constituency.has.been.reallocated.to.Cape.Breton.Centre,.Cape.Breton.West.(Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg),.and.Cape.Breton.South.(Sydney).
8.. Cape Breton South:.Expands.northward.to.include.Sydney.and.Whitney.Pier.area.from.Cape.Breton.Nova..Loses.the.Sydney.River,.Prime.Brook,.and.Mira.Road.areas.to.Cape.Breton.West.(Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg)..West.of.the.Sydney.River,.it.loses.the.Westmount.area.to.Cape.Breton.North.(Northside-Westmount),.and.the.Coxheath.area.to.Cape.Breton.West.(Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg)..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Sydney.
9.. Cape Breton West:.Gains.Mira.Road,.Sydney.River,.Prime.Brook,.and.Coxheath.areas.from.Cape.Breton.South,.as.well.as.a.section.of.Grand.Lake.Road.area.from.Cape.Breton.Nova..Loses.the.area.northwest.of.East.Bay.to.Victoria-The.Lakes,.and.loses.the.area.southwest.of.the.Portage.and.Sandfield.areas.and.west.of.the.Mira.River.to.Richmond.(Cape Breton-Richmond)..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg.
10.. Chester-St. Margaret’s:.Loses.the.Upper.Tantallon.area.north.of.Highway.103.to.Hammonds.Plains-Upper.Sackville.(Hammonds Plains-Lucasville).
11.. Clare:.Expands.eastward.to.include.the.remainder.of.Digby.County..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Clare-Digby.
12.. Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley:.No.change.
13.. Colchester North:.No.change.
14.. Cole Harbour:.Loses.a.portion.of.the.Westphal.area.to.Preston.(Dartmouth-Preston)..Gains.the.Portland.Hills.area.from.Dartmouth.South-Portland.Valley.and.the.area.east.of.Bell.Lake.from.Dartmouth.East..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Cole Harbour-Portland Valley.
15.. Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage:.Expands.westward.to.gain.the.area.south.of.Russell.Lake.and.east.of.Highway.111.from.Dartmouth.South-Portland.Valley.
16.. Cumberland North:.Loses.the.area.south.of.the.Nappan.River.to.Cumberland.South.
17.. Cumberland South:.Expands.northward.to.gain.the.area.south.of.the.Nappan.River.from.Cumberland.North.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 33
18.. Dartmouth East:.Expands.northward.to.gain.the.Portobello.area.from.Waverley-Fall.River-Beaver.Bank..Loses.a.small.area.east.of.Bell.Lake.to.Cole.Harbour.(Cole Harbour-Portland Valley),.and.loses.the.area.north.of.Main.Street.and.east.of.Caledonia.Road.until.Geovex.Court.to.Preston.(Dartmouth-Preston).
19.. Dartmouth North:.No.change.
20.. Dartmouth South-Portland Valley:.Loses.the.Portland.Hills.area.to.Cole.Harbour.(Cole Harbour-Portland Valley).and.loses.the.area.south.of.Russell.Lake.and.east.of.Highway.111.to.Cole.Harbour-Eastern.Passage..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Dartmouth South.
21.. Digby-Annapolis:.This.constituency.is.to.be.merged.with.adjacent.constituencies..The.Digby.County.portion.is.to.be.merged.with.the.current.electoral.district.of.Clare.(Clare-Digby),.and.the.Annapolis.County.portion.is.to.be.merged.with.Annapolis,.excluding.the.Maitland.Bridge.area,.which.is.to.be.merged.with.Queens.(Queens-Shelburne).
22.. Eastern Shore:.Loses.the.Ross.Road.area.to.Preston.(Dartmouth-Preston).
23.. Glace Bay:.No.change.
24.. Guysborough-Sheet Harbour:.Expands.north.into.Antigonish.County,.to.include.the.area.east.of.the.Tracadie.River..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.East Nova.
25.. Halifax Atlantic:.Gains.a.small.number.of.streets.in.the.Williamswood.and.Harrietsfield.areas.from.Timberlea-Prospect..Loses.the.area.east.of.Herring.Cove.Road.and.north.of.Frog.Pond.Park.to.Halifax.Fairview.(Halifax-Armdale).
26.. Halifax Chebucto:.Expands.slightly.northeast.into.Halifax.Needham,.to.include.the.area.south.of.Robie.Street.and.east.of.Young.Street..Expands.slightly.southward.into.Halifax.Citadel-Sable.Island.to.include.the.area.west.of.Robie.Street.and.north.of.Coburg.Road..Loses.the.area.north.of.Bayers.Road.and.east.of.Connaught.Avenue.to.Halifax.Needham,.and.loses.the.area.north.of.Bayers.Road.and.west.of.Connaught.Avenue.to.the.new.constituency.of.Fairview-Clayton.Park.
27.. Halifax Citadel-Sable Island:.Loses.the.area.west.of.Robie.Street.and.north.of.Coburg.Road.to.Halifax.Chebucto.
28.. Halifax Clayton Park:.Gains.Birch.Cove.and.Kearney.Lake.areas.from.Bedford-Birch.Cove,.and.gains.the.Kearney.Lake.area.from.Hammonds.Plains-Upper.Sackville..Loses.the.Susies.Lake.and.Quarrie.Lake.areas.to.Timberlea-Prospect,.and.loses.the.areas.south.of.Mount.St.Vincent.University.and.Lacewood.Drive.as.well.as.the.Washmill.Lake.Drive.area.to.the.new.constituency.of.Fairview-Clayton.Park..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Clayton Park West.
34 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
29.. Halifax Fairview:.Gains.the.area.east.of.Herring.Cove.Road.and.north.of.Frog.Pond.Park.from.Halifax.Atlantic..Loses.the.area.north.of.Highway.102,.and.east.of.Northwest.Arm.Drive./.Dunbrack.Street.to.the.new.constituency.of.Fairview-Clayton.Park..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Halifax Armdale.
30.. Halifax Needham:.Loses.the.area.south.of.Robie.Street.and.east.of.Young.Street.to.Halifax.Chebucto..Gains.the.area.north.of.Bayers.Road.and.east.of.Connaught.Avenue.from.Halifax.Chebucto.
31.. Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville:.Loses.the.area.east.of.Highway.101,.including.the.Upper.Sackville.area,.to.the.new.constituency.of.Sackville..Loses.the.Kearney.Lake.area.to.Halifax-Clayton.Park.(Clayton Park West)..Expands.slightly.west.to.gain.the.Upper.Tantallon.area.north.of.Highway.103.from.Chester-St..Margaret’s..Expands.slightly.south.to.gain.the.Stillwater.Lake.area.from.Timberlea-Prospect..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Hammonds Plains-Lucasville.
32.. Hants East:.No.change.
33.. Hants West:.No.change.
34.. Inverness:.Loses.the.Town.of.Port.Hawkesbury.to.Richmond.(Cape Breton-Richmond).
35.. Kings North:.No.change.
36.. Kings South:.No.change.
37.. Kings West:.No.change.
38.. Lunenburg:.No.change.
39.. Lunenburg West:.Expands.westward.to.gain.the.remainder.of.Lunenburg.County.from.Queens.
40.. Pictou Centre:.No.change.
41.. Pictou East:.No.change.
42.. Pictou West:.No.change.
43.. Preston:.Expands.southwest.to.include.part.of.the.Westphal.area.from.Cole.Harbour.and.the.Ross.Road.area.from.Eastern.Shore..Expands.westward.to.gain.the.area.north.of.Main.Street.and.east.of.Caledonia.Road.until.Geovex.Court.from.Dartmouth.East..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Dartmouth-Preston.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 35
44.. Queens:.Loses.area.within.Lunenburg.County.to.Lunenburg.West..Expands.slightly.northward.to.gain.the.Maitland.Bridge.area.from.Digby-Annapolis,.and.expands.west.to.the.municipal.boundary.separating.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Barrington.and.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Shelburne..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Queens-Shelburne.
45.. Richmond:.Gains.the.Town.of.Port.Hawkesbury.from.Inverness.and.expands.northeast.to.include.the.area.east.of.East.Bay.and.west.of.the.Mira.River.until.Morley.Road.from.Cape.Breton.West..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Cape Breton-Richmond.
46.. Sackville-Cobequid:.Loses.a.small.area.along.its.northwestern.edge.to.the.new.constituency.of.Sackville.
47.. Shelburne:.Loses.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Barrington.and.the.Town.of.Clark’s.Harbour.to.Argyle.(Argyle-Barrington)..Gains.Queens.County.plus.the.Maitland.Bridge.area.from.Digby-Annapolis..This.constituency.to.be.renamed.Queens-Shelburne.
48.. Timberlea-Prospect:.Loses.the.Stillwater.Lake.area.to.Hammonds.Plains-Upper.Sackville.(Hammonds Plains-Lucasville),.as.well.as.a.small.number.of.streets.in.the.Williamswood.and.Harrietsfield.area.to.Halifax.Atlantic..Gains.Susies.Lake.and.Quarrie.Lake.areas.from.Halifax-Clayton.Park.
49.. Truro-Bible Hill:.No.change.
50.. Victoria-The Lakes:.Gains.the.area.northwest.of.East.Bay.from.Cape.Breton.West,.and.the.area.west.of.Little.Bras.d’Or.from.Cape.Breton.North.
51.. Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank:.Loses.a.portion.of.the.Beaver.Bank.area.to.the.new.constituency.of.Sackville,.and.loses.the.Portobello.area.to.Dartmouth.East.
52.. Yarmouth:.No.change.
36 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Proposed Constituency2012
Electors (1)
2012 Seat Entitlement
(2)
01 Annapolis 16,194 1.16
02 Antigonish 13,314 0.95
03 Argyle-Barrington 12,455 0.89
04 Bedford 17,371 1.25
05 Cape Breton Centre 12,632 0.91
06 Cape Breton-Richmond 10,494 0.75
07 Chester-St. Margaret’s 14,860 1.07
08 Clare-Digby 14,161 1.01
09 Clayton Park West 17,100 1.23
10 Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley 13,640 0.98
11 Colchester North 13,879 0.99
12 Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage 13,735 0.98
13 Cole Harbour-Portland Valley 16,813 1.21
14 Cumberland North 12,857 0.92
15 Cumberland South 11,389 0.82
16 Dartmouth East 13,788 0.99
17 Dartmouth North 15,512 1.11
18 Dartmouth-Preston 10,720 0.77
19 Dartmouth South 15,510 1.11
20 East Nova 10,555 0.76
21 Eastern Shore 11,765 0.84
22 Fairview-Clayton Park 17,380 1.25
23 Glace Bay 12,236 0.88
24 Halifax Armdale 11,505 0.82
25 Halifax Atlantic 13,518 0.97
26 Halifax Chebucto 16,381 1.17
27 Halifax Citadel-Sable Island 14,807 1.06
28 Halifax Needham 15,918 1.14
29 Hammonds Plains-Lucasville 10,702 0.77
30 Hants East 17,303 1.24
31 Hants West 14,650 1.05
32 Inverness 11,147 0.80
33 Kings North 15,096 1.08
34 Kings South 16,099 1.15
Table 2: Proposed Constituencies, with Electors and Seat Entitlements, 2012
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 37
Proposed Constituency2012
Electors (1)
2012 Seat Entitlement
(2)
35 Kings West 14,614 1.05
36 Lunenburg 13,720 0.98
37 Lunenburg West 15,419 1.11
38 Northside-Westmount 15,642 1.12
39 Pictou Centre 12,860 0.92
40 Pictou East 11,803 0.85
41 Pictou West 10,886 0.78
42 Queens-Shelburne 13,946 1.00
43 Sackville 12,099 0.87
44 Sackville-Cobequid 14,813 1.06
45 Sydney 16,984 1.22
46 Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg 14,744 1.06
47 Timberlea-Prospect 14,854 1.06
48 Truro-Bible Hill 15,656 1.12
49 Victoria-The Lakes 11,823 0.85
50 Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank 13,309 0.95
51 Yarmouth 12,900 0.92
Total 711,558 51.00
Average 13,952 1.00
(1).Electors.are.defined.as.Canadian.citizens.18.years.of.age.and.older,.based.on.2011.census.data.
(2).The.2011.seat.entitlements,.based.on.numbers.of.electors,.are.calculated.by.dividing.the.number.of.electors.in.each.constituency.by.the.provincial.average.of.electors.per.constituency,.based.on.51.seats..The.acceptable.range.of.electors.that.fall.within.the.±25.per.cent.of.the.provincial.average.of.electors.per.constituency.(711,558/51.=.13,952).is.a.minimum.of.10,464.to.a.maximum.of.17,440.
38 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Table 3: Proposed Constituencies and Number of Electors, by Region
Annapolis Valley
Annapolis 16,194
Hants West 14,650
Kings North 15,096
Kings South 16,099
Kings West 14,614
Total 76,653
Cape Breton
Cape Breton Centre 12,632
Cape Breton-Richmond 10,494
Glace Bay 12,236
Inverness 11,147
Northside-Westmount 15,642
Sydney 16,984
Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg 14,744
Victoria-The Lakes 11,823
Total 105,702
Central Nova
Antigonish 13,314
East Nova 10,555
Pictou Centre 12,860
Pictou East 11,803
Pictou West 10,886
Total 59,418
Fundy Northeast
Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley 13,640
Colchester North 13,879
Cumberland North 12,857
Cumberland South 11,389
Hants East 17,303
Truro-Bible Hill 15,656
Total 84,724
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 39
Halifax Regional Municipality
Bedford 17,371
Clayton Park West 17,100
Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage 13,735
Cole Harbour-Portland Valley 16,813
Dartmouth East 13,788
Dartmouth North 15,512
Dartmouth-Preston 10,720
Dartmouth South 15,510
Eastern Shore 11,765
Fairview-Clayton Park 17,380
Halifax Armdale 11,505
Halifax Atlantic 13,518
Halifax Chebucto 16,381
Halifax Citadel-Sable Island 14,807
Halifax Needham 15,918
Hammonds Plains-Lucasville 10,702
Sackville 12,099
Sackville-Cobequid 14,813
Timberlea-Prospect 14,854
Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank 13,309
Total 287,600
South Shore
Chester-St. Margaret’s 14,860
Lunenburg 13,720
Lunenburg West 15,419
Total 43,999
Southwest Nova Scotia
Argyle-Barrington 12,455
Clare-Digby 14,161
Queens-Shelburne 13,946
Yarmouth 12,900
Total 53,462
40 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Table 4: Existing and Proposed Seats, by Region
Region (1)
Counties included in each region
Number of electors per region
Existing percentage
of NS electors
Existing number of seats
Proposed number of seats
Existing percentage
of seats per region
Proposed percentage
of seats per region
Annapolis Valley
Hants (West) Kings
Annapolis76,653 10.77 5 5 9.62 9.80
Cape Breton
Cape Breton Victoria
Inverness Richmond
105,702 14.86 9 8 17.31 15.69
Central Nova
Pictou Antigonish
Guysborough59,418 8.35 5 5 9.62 9.80
Fundy Northeast
Hants (East) Colchester
Cumberland84,724 11.91 6 6 11.54 11.76
Halifax Regional Municipality
Halifax 287,600 40.42 18 20 34.62 39.22
South Shore Lunenburg 43,999 6.18 3 3 5.77 5.88
Southwest Nova Scotia
Digby Yarmouth Shelburne Queens
53,462 7.51 6 4 11.53 7.84
Total 711,558 100 52 51 100 100
(1).See.Table.3.for.a.list.of.constituencies.by.region.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 41
Table 5: Existing and Proposed Average Seat Entitlement, by Region
Region (1)
Number of electors
in each region
Existing number of seats
Average number of electors per seat
Existing seat entitlement
(2)
Proposed number of seats
Revised number of electors per seat
Proposed seat
entitlement
(3)
Annapolis Valley 76,653 5 15,331 1.12 5 15,331 1.10
Cape Breton 105,702 9 11,745 0.86 8 13,213 0.95
Central Nova 59,418 5 11,884 0.87 5 11,884 0.85
Fundy Northeast 84,724 6 14,121 1.03 6 14,121 1.01
Halifax Regional Municipality
287,600 18 15,978 1.17 20 14,380 1.03
South Shore 43,999 3 14,666 1.07 3 14,666 1.05
Southwest Nova Scotia 53,462 6 8,910 0.65 4 13,366 0.96
Total 711,558 52 13,684 1.00 51 13,952 1.00
(1).See.Table.3.for.a.list.of.constituencies.by.region.
(2).Existing.seat.entitlement.per.region.is.obtained.by.dividing.the.regional.average.number.of.electors.per.seat.by.the.provincial.average.number.of.electors.per.seat,.based.on.52.seats.(711,558/52.=.13,684).
(3).Proposed.seat.entitlement.per.region.is.obtained.by.dividing.the.regional.revised.average.number.of.electors.per.seat.by.the.provincial.average.number.of.electors.per.seat,.based.on.51.seats.(711,558/51.=.13,952).
42 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Maps
Annapolis Valley
Annapolis Valley Electoral Districts
01 Annapolis
31 Hants West
33 Kings North
34 Kings South
35 Kings West
*For.a.more.detailed.representation.of.the.2012.Proposed.Electoral.District.boundaries,.please.visit.http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 43
Cape Breton
Cape Breton Electoral Districts
05 Cape Breton Centre
06 Cape Breton-Richmond
23 Glace Bay
32 Inverness
38 Northside-Westmount
45 Sydney
46 Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg
49 Victoria-The Lakes
*For.a.more.detailed.representation.of.the.2012.Proposed.Electoral.District.boundaries,.please.visit.http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/
44 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Cape Breton Inset
Cape Breton Electoral Districts
05 Cape Breton Centre
06 Cape Breton-Richmond
23 Glace Bay
32 Inverness
38 Northside-Westmount
45 Sydney
46 Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg
49 Victoria-The Lakes
*For.a.more.detailed.representation.of.the.2012.Proposed.Electoral.District.boundaries,.please.visit.http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 45
Central Nova
Central Nova Electoral Districts
02 Antigonish
20 East Nova
39 Pictou Centre
40 Pictou East
41 Pictou West
*For.a.more.detailed.representation.of.the.2012.Proposed.Electoral.District.boundaries,.please.visit.http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/
46 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Fundy Northeast
Fundy Northeast Electoral Districts
10 Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley
11 Colchester North
14 Cumberland North
15 Cumberland South
30 Hants East
48 Truro-Bible Hill
*For.a.more.detailed.representation.of.the.2012.Proposed.Electoral.District.boundaries,.please.visit.http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 47
Halifax Regional Municipality
HRM Electoral Districts HRM Electoral Districts
04 Bedford 24 Halifax Armdale09 Clayton Park West 25 Halifax Atlantic12 Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage 26 Halifax Chebucto13 Cole Harbour-Portland Valley 27 Halifax Citadel-Sable Island16 Dartmouth East 28 Halifax Needham17 Dartmouth North 29 Hammonds Plains-Lucasville18 Dartmouth-Preston 43 Sackville19 Dartmouth South 44 Sackville-Cobequid21 Eastern Shore 47 Timberlea-Prospect22 Fairview-Clayton Park 50 Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank
*For.a.more.detailed.representation.of.the.2012.Proposed.Electoral.District.boundaries,.please.visit.http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/
48 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Halifax Regional Municipality Inset
HRM Electoral Districts HRM Electoral Districts
04 Bedford 24 Halifax Armdale09 Clayton Park West 25 Halifax Atlantic12 Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage 26 Halifax Chebucto13 Cole Harbour-Portland Valley 27 Halifax Citadel-Sable Island16 Dartmouth East 28 Halifax Needham17 Dartmouth North 29 Hammonds Plains-Lucasville18 Dartmouth-Preston 43 Sackville19 Dartmouth South 44 Sackville-Cobequid21 Eastern Shore 47 Timberlea-Prospect22 Fairview-Clayton Park 50 Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank
*For.a.more.detailed.representation.of.the.2012.Proposed.Electoral.District.boundaries,.please.visit.http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 49
South Shore
South Shore Electoral Districts
07 Chester-St. Margaret’s
36 Lunenburg
37 Lunenburg West
*For.a.more.detailed.representation.of.the.2012.Proposed.Electoral.District.boundaries,.please.visit.http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/
50 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Southwest Nova Scotia
Southwest Nova Scotia Electoral Districts
03 Argyle-Barrington
08 Clare-Digby
42 Queens-Shelburne
51 Yarmouth
*For.a.more.detailed.representation.of.the.2012.Proposed.Electoral.District.boundaries,.please.visit.http://nselectoralboundaries.ca/
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 51
In.the.course.of.fulfilling.its.mandate,.the.Commission.heard.about.and.experienced.situations.that.were.outside.the.direct.realm.of.setting.electoral.boundaries..Yet.some.circumstances.do.relate.to.the.process.of.enabling.fair.and.effective.representation.for.Nova.Scotia’s.electors..The.following.suggestions.are.presented.in.the.spirit.of.sharing.the.benefit.of.what.the.Commission.learned.
1. Guidelines for Commission appointees
The Commission is mindful that, once formally appointed, it is to function
independently of influence from government and the legislature. The Commission
is also aware that knowledge of basic operational guidelines would help members
to be confident that they are working within the normal expectations of a
publicly appointed body. It therefore suggests that, in future, an orientation
session take place at the outset of the Commission’s appointment. This should
include a handbook outlining routine operational requirements. The Select
Committee on Establishing an Electoral Boundaries Commission could be tasked
with these responsibilities.
2. Issues relating to fair representation of Acadian and African Nova Scotian populations
A shift in the practice of protecting selected ridings raises the prospect of considering
alternative ways of addressing the representation needs of special populations that
had previously been protected. In this Final Report, the Commission has presented a
somewhat limited proposal (see Electoral Redistribution in Nova Scotia: Key Issues
and Challenges, p. 14).
Problems and reasonable objections remain even with this more limited proposal.
Within the Commission, there was not full agreement about its merit. Since
special legislation would have to be passed to enact it (or any other proposal of a
similar nature), the Commission suggests that the House of Assembly take it under
advisement in order to air and debate the various issues more fully. The Commission
is also of the opinion that the Nova Scotia Legislature should establish a process
for consulting with key minority groups, in particular the Acadian and African
Nova Scotian communities, for the purpose of determining alternative means for
achieving fair and effective minority representation in the House of Assembly.
Other Recommendations
52 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
3. Electoral system reform
The Commission is aware that the serious consideration and recommendation
of alternative electoral systems is beyond its mandate. It is also cognizant that
the adoption of a new electoral system represents a dramatic change to one of
Nova Scotia’s key political institutions. It therefore suggests that the Nova Scotia
Legislature initiate a process involving both extensive critical examination and
public consultation on the current electoral system as well as possible alternatives
to it.
4. Modifying the public consultation process
The House of Assembly Act determines the method of engaging the public
through two rounds of public meetings, before and after preparing a
preliminary report. The Commission believes that the consultation process
would be strengthened by having a draft of proposed boundary changes made
public prior to the first round of public meetings. It therefore suggests that the
Nova Scotia Legislature modify the House of Assembly Act requiring a draft of
proposed boundary changes be made public by the Boundaries Commission
before the first round of public meetings, followed by a preliminary report
before the second round of public meetings.
5. Compensation in relation to large rural ridings
The Commission heard references to the difficulty of serving constituents in large
rural ridings. In particular, there is the matter of travel time and expense required
for many rural representatives to effectively represent their constituents, or for
their constituents to access their representatives. While it is a matter that can affect
voter participation, it is outside the Commission’s mandate to recommend a direct
solution. Instead, the Commission recommends that this issue be brought to the
attention of the House of Assembly Management Commission.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 53
The.essential.work.of.Elections.Nova.Scotia.will.be.directly.and.immediately.affected.by.the.proposed.changes.to.the.province’s.electoral.districts..Given.this,.the.Commission.puts.forward.the.following.recommendations.on.behalf.of.Elections.Nova.Scotia.
1. The Commission recommends that Elections Nova Scotia begin revising, on
a without-prejudice basis, the provincial electoral boundaries as soon as the
Commission’s Final Report is tabled in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
2. The Commission recommends that Elections Nova Scotia be granted the authority
to make minor changes in the province’s electoral boundaries, for administrative
reasons only.
3. The Commission recommends that additional Returning Officers be authorized for
the large rural constituencies.
4. The Commission recommends a proclamation date of January 1, 2013, for the
amendment to the House of Assembly Act that would legislate the proposed changes
to the province’s electoral districts.*
*.Since.2002,.when.the.last.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.reported,.more-stringent.reporting.requirements.have.been.legislated.for.Nova.Scotia’s.registered.political.parties.and.electoral.districts..Annual.financial.reports.must.be.submitted.by.these.entities.to.Elections.Nova.Scotia.to.cover.all.activity.for.the.previous.year,.ending.December.31..Many.of.these.reports.are.required.to.have.costly.audits.that.must.be.borne.by.the.political.parties.and.Electoral.District.Associations.(EDAs).
Each.electoral.district.affected.by.the.proposed.boundary.changes.must.become.de-registered.and.close.its.bank.account,.transferring.funds.to.its.respective.party..The.new.electoral.districts.will.organize.founding.meetings,.open.bank.accounts,.register.with.Elections.Nova.Scotia,.and.receive.funds.from.the.pre-existing.districts.through.their.political.parties.
A.proclamation.date.other.than.January.1,.2013.will.result.in.doubling.the.reports.and.filings.prepared.for.the.affected.electoral.districts,.often.completed.by.volunteers.
54 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Appendix A: Description of Proposed Electoral Boundaries
Please note: The following boundary descriptions are not designed to be official legal descriptions for the proposed electoral boundaries.
01.. Annapolis:.On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Annapolis/Kings.County.line,.running.from.the.coast.of.the.Bay.of.Fundy.south.to.the.Lunenburg.County.line..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.from.the.intersection.of.the.Annapolis/Kings/Lunenburg.County.lines.southwest.along.the.southern.boundary.of.the.Annapolis.County.line.until.it.intersects.with.the.Albany.New.community.boundary..It.follows.this.boundary.north.until.Mersey.Road..It.continues.north.until.the.end.of.this.road,.where.it.then.runs.west,.following.an.unidentified.brook.to.an.unidentified.lake..It.then.continues.west,.following.the.northern.boundaries.of.Northfield,.Maitland.Bridge,.and.Kejimkujik.National.Park.until.the.Annapolis/Digby.County.line..On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Annapolis/Digby.County.line,.through.Bear.River.and.Digby.Gut..On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Bay.of.Fundy.
02.. Antigonish:.On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Antigonish/Pictou.County.line..On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Northumberland.Strait.until.Tracadie.Harbour..On.the.east,.from.Tracadie.Harbour,.the.boundary.runs.south,.following.the.Tracadie.River.until.the.Antigonish/Guysborough.County.line..From.this.point.the.boundary.runs.southwest,.following.the.county.line.until.it.intersects.the.Pictou.County.line.
03.. Argyle-Barrington:.On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.west,.from.the.Atlantic.Ocean,.the.boundary.follows.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Argyle.boundary.line..On.the.north.and.east,.it.continues.following.the.municipal.boundary.line.until.it.intersects.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Barrington.boundary.line..It.follows.the.eastern.boundary.of.this.municipal.boundary.south.until.the.Atlantic.Ocean.
04.. Bedford:.It.wraps.around.the.Bedford.Basin..On.the.south.it.runs.from.the.Bedford.Basin,.between.Shaunslieve.Drive.and.Lodge.Drive,.through.Hemlock.Ravine.Park.to.Highway.102..On.the.west,.it.follows.Highway.102.until.it.reaches.a.point.west.of.Paper.Mill.Lake..It.then.runs.west.until.it.intersects.Bluewater.Road,.where.it.turns.northwest,.and.runs.parallel.to.Kearney.Lake.Road.until.it.intersects.Hammonds.Plains.Road..From.this.point,.it.runs.northeast.parallel.to.Farmers.Dairy.Lane,.continues.along.the.outside.of.the.northwestern.shores.of.Sandy.Lake.and.Marsh.Lake.until.it.reaches.the.Sackville.River..It.then.follows.the.Sackville.River.east.to.Highway.101,.which.it.follows.southeast.to.Highway.102,.which.it.follows.northeast.until.it.reaches.Rocky.Lake..On.the.north,.it.cuts.through.Rocky.Lake.until.it.reaches.Rocky.Lake.Drive..On.the.east,.it.follows.Rocky.Lake.Drive.south,.wraps.around.Quarrystone.Drive.and.Fraggle.Rock.Road,.and.then.continues.along.Rocky.Lake.Drive.to.the.Bedford.Bypass.to.Windmill.Road.until.it.reaches.the.Dartmouth.North.district.boundary.
Appendices
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 55
05.. Cape Breton Centre:.It.is.bounded.on.the.west.by.Sydney.Harbour,.starting.at.the.point.where.the.South.Bar.and.Sydney.community.boundaries.intersect,.then.following.the.coastline.north.out.and.around.Low.Point.to.the.Glace.Bay.community.boundary.near.the.end.of.Davidson.Street..It.then.runs.from.the.coast,.south.to.the.west.of.Row.Street,.to.the.intersection.of.Phalen.Road.and.Reserve.Street,.and.then.southeast.to.Renwick.Brook..Heading.west,.it.follows.the.Sydney.International.Airport.property.line.southwest.to.a.point.south.of.the.Highway.4.and.Airport.Road.intersection,.runs.parallel.to.Highway.4.in.a.southwestern.direction.to.a.point.approximately.1200.metres.southeast.of.Highway.4.and.Garth.Wilson.Avenue,.where.it.turns.northwest.to.connect.with.Highway.4..It.runs.west.along.Highway.4.(Grand.Lake.Road).to.a.point.east.of.Reeves.Street,.where.it.turns.north.and.runs.approximately.2500.metres.until.the.Lingan.Road.community.boundary,.which.it.follows.north,.parallel.to.Dryden.Avenue.until.it.intersects.Lingan.Road..It.then.continues.running.north.for.approximately.600.metres.until.it.reconnects.with.the.Lingan.Road.community.boundary,.where.it.turns.west,.following.the.Lingan.Road.and.Sydney.community.boundaries,.parallel.to.Grant.Street.and.Birchwood.Lane.until.Sydney.Harbour.
06.. Cape Breton-Richmond:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.Bras.d’Or.Lake.and.East.Bay.until.it.reaches.the.point.where.Eskasoni.Road.and.Kings.Road.(Highway.4).intersect..It.follows.Kings.Road.(Highway.4).northeast,.then.turns.southeast.and.follows.Morley.Road.until.it.intersects.with.Grand.Mira.North.Road..From.this.point,.it.follows.the.Mira.River.south.until.it.reaches.the.Richmond.County.line..It.then.follows.this.county.boundary.southeast.until.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean,.Chedabucto.Bay.and.the.Strait.of.Canso....On.the.west,.from.the.Strait.of.Canso,.it.follows.the.northern.boundary.of.the.Town.of.Port.Hawkesbury,.around.the.community.boundary,.so.as.to.include.it,.until.it.reaches.the.Richmond.County.line,.where.it.follows.the.county.line.northeast.until.it.reaches.Bras.d’Or.Lake.
07.. Chester-St. Margaret’s:.On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Chester.boundary.line..On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Lunenburg.County.line..On.the.east.it.follows.the.Lunenburg.County.line.south.until.it.intersects.with.the.Halifax.County.line,.which.it.follows.until.Pockwock.Lake..It.then.runs.south,.through.Wrights.Lake.and.follows.the.Upper.Tantallon.and.Head.of.St..Margaret’s.Bay.community.boundary,.continuing.south.until.Highway.103..It.then.follows.Highway.103.east.to.Hammonds.Plains.Road,.which.it.follows.south.until.St..Margaret’s.Bay.Road..From.this.point,.the.boundary.runs.southeast.in.a.straight.line.through.the.eastern.shore.of.Long.Lake,.through.Big.Five.Bridge.Lake,.Moores.Lake,.to.Upper.Pond,.which.it.runs.through.into.Shad.Bay,.which.it.follows.to.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean.
08.. Clare-Digby:.On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.south,.from.the.Atlantic.Ocean,.it.follows.the.Digby/Yarmouth.County.line.east.until.it.intersects.the.Shelburne.and.Queens.County.lines..It.then.follows.the.Digby/Queens.County.line.northeast.until.it.intersects.the.Annapolis.County.line..On.the.east,.it.follows.the.Digby/Annapolis.County.line.northwest,.through.Digby.Gut.and.into.the.Bay.of.Fundy.(Atlantic.Ocean).
56 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
09.. Clayton Park West:.On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Bedford.Basin..On.the.south,.from.the.Bedford.Basin,.the.boundary.runs.west,.parallel.to.Melody.Drive.and.Canary.Crescent..It.then.turns.south.and.west.and.runs.parallel.to.Chartwell.Lane.until.Lacewood.Drive..It.then.follows.Lacewood.Drive.west.until.Mainland.North.Linear.Parkway,.which.it.follows.south.until.a.point.just.west.of.Birkdale.Crescent..From.this.point,.it.turns.west.and.runs.west.along.the.outside.of.Regency.Park.Drive.and.Greenpark.Close.until.it.reaches.Highway.102..The.boundary.then.wraps.around.Bayers.Lake.Industrial.Park,.following.Highway.102.east.to.Highway.103.south,.until.a.point.south.of.Horseshoe.Lake.Drive..It.then.runs.north,.along.the.outside.of.Hobsons.Lake.Drive,.Horseshoe.Lake.Drive,.and.Chain.Lake.Drive.until.it.intersects.with.Highway.102..The.boundary.follows.Highway.102.north.until.a.point.east.of.Washmill.Lake,.where.it.turns.west.and.runs.along.the.northern.shores.of.Quarry.Lake.and.south.of.Ash.Lake.until.the.Timberlea.community.boundary..It.follows.this.community.boundary.north.and.east,.just.beyond.Ash.Lake,.where.it.turns.north.and.follows.an.unidentified.track.north.until.it.reaches.the.eastern.boundary.of.the.community.of.Hammonds.Plains..It.then.follows.this.community.boundary.around.Collins.Road.and.Belle.Street.until.it.reaches.Kearney.Lake.Road,.which.it.follows.south.until.it.reaches.the.northern.shore.of.Kearney.Lake,.which.it.follows.east.to.an.unidentified.stream.to.Highway.102..From.here,.the.boundary.runs.south.until.the.end.of.Kearney.Lake,.where.it.turns.east.and.runs.through.Hemlock.Ravine.Park,.between.Shaunslieve.Drive.and.Lodge.Drive.and.out.into.the.Bedford.Basin.
10.. Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley:.It.is.bounded.on.the.west.by.the.Colchester/Hants.County.line.running.through.the.Shubenacadie.River.until.it.intersects.Highway.102,.which.it.follows.south.until.it.intersects.Aerotech.Drive..From.this.point,.the.boundary.runs.southeast.until.it.reaches.an.unidentified.brook,.which.it.follows.south.through.Soldier.Lake..From.the.southern.point.of.Soldier.Lake,.the.boundary.turns.east.and.runs.through.the.Waverley.Salmon.River.Long.Lake.Wilderness.Area..The.boundary.runs.through.Three.Mile.Lake,.continues.east,.just.south.of.Lake.Williams.and.East.Lake.until.the.northern.tip.of.Porters.Lake..From.this.point,.it.runs.northeast.through.the.northern.shores.of.Burnt.Lake.and.Gibraltar.Lake,.intersecting.Highway.357,.continuing.northeast.along.the.northern.shores.of.Grand.Lake,.Ship.Harbour,.Long.Lake.and.Scraggy.Lake,.intersects.Mooseland.Road,.and.runs.in.between.Lower.Beaver.and.Middle.Beaver.Lakes.before.intersecting.Highway.224..From.this.point,.it.continues.northeast,.running.south.of.Como.Lake.and.Smith.Lake.before.intersecting.Highway.374.and.then.reaching.the.Halifax/Guysborough.County.line..Along.the.east,.it.follows.the.county.line.north.until.a.point.just.beyond.Highway.289..Along.the.north,.from.a.point.north.of.Highway.289,.the.boundary.line.runs.west.to.a.point.where.the.Greenfield,.Burnside,.and.Riversdale.community.boundaries.meet..From.this.point,.it.follows.the.Greenfield.community.boundary.north.and.west.until.it.reaches.Valley.Road,.which.it.follows.to.Salmon.River,.which.it.follows.west.until.a.point.south.of.Warren.Drive..The.boundary.then.turns.southeast.until.it.reaches.the.Truro.community.boundary..It.follows.this.boundary.south.and.west,.then.follows.the.Millbrook.27.Reserve.boundary.west.and.north.until.it.rejoins.the.Truro.community.boundary,.which.it.follows.into.Cobequid.Bay.to.the.Shubenacadie.River.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 57
11.. Colchester North:.On.the.west,.from.the.Minas.Basin,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Colchester/Cumberland.County.line,.which.it.follows.east.and.north.into.Tatamagouche.Bay..On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.Tatamagouche.Bay.(Northumberland.Strait)..On.the.east,.from.Tatamagouche.Bay,.the.boundary.follows.the.Pictou/Colchester.County.line.south.to.a.point.north.of.Highway.289..From.this.point,.the.boundary.line.runs.west.to.a.point.where.the.Greenfield,.Burnside,.and.Riversdale.community.boundaries.meet..From.this.point,.it.follows.the.Greenfield.community.boundary.north.and.west.until.it.reaches.Valley.Road,.which.it.follows.to.the.Salmon.River,.which.it.follows.west.until.a.point.south.of.the.Old.Court.House.Branch..From.this.point,.it.follows.the.Bible.Hill.community.boundary.north.and.west.until.it.reaches.the.Truro.community.boundary.(Salmon.River)..It.then.follows.the.river.west.into.Cobequid.Bay.(Minas.Basin).
12.. Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage:.On.the.west,.the.boundary.runs.from.Halifax.Harbour.along.Highway.111..It.then.runs.east,.parallel.to.the.south.of.Mount.Hope.Avenue.until.it.reaches.the.western.boundary.of.the.Shearwater.airport..It.runs.northeast,.along.the.outside.of.the.airport,.through.Morris.Lake.until.it.reaches.Caldwell.Road..It.follows.Caldwell.Road.north.to.Deerbrooke.Drive.to.Colby.Drive.until.Greenwich.Drive..It.then.runs.through.Bissett.Lake.until.it.reaches.Cole.Harbour.(body.of.water)..It.is.bounded.on.the.east.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean.and.on.the.south.by.Halifax.Harbour..This.district.includes.McNabs.Island.and.Lawlor.Island.
13.. Cole Harbour-Portland Valley:.On.the.west,.it.runs.through.Morris.Lake,.parallel.to.Diana.Grace.Avenue.until.it.reaches.Portland.Estates.Boulevard.West..It.then.follows.Eisner.Boulevard.to.Portland.Street.to.just.beyond.Regal.Road..It.then.turns.north.and.runs.through.Bell.Lake.to.Lucien.Drive..It.follows.Lucien.Drive.northwest.to.Mount.Edward.Road,.where.it.extends.to.Main.Street..On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.Main.Street,.to.Highway.7..From.a.point.along.Highway.7,.the.boundary.runs.south,.parallel.to.Panavista.Drive,.wraps.around.the.north.of.Taranaki.Drive.to.Auburn.Drive.to.Bradorian.Drive.and.back.to.Auburn.Drive,.which.it.follows.south,.then.wraps.around.Sophia.Crescent.to.Roseway.Court.to.Gammon.Crescent.to.Tamara.Drive..It.then.runs.east,.parallel.to.Cassandra.Drive.between.Ritcey.Crescent.and.Old.Lawrencetown.Road.until.it.reaches.a.brook.that.it.follows.until.Cole.Harbour.Road.and.Cole.Harbour.(body.of.water).intersect..On.the.south,.it.follows.the.Cole.Harbour-Eastern.Passage.district.boundary,.through.Bissett.Lake.to.the.intersection.of.Greenwich.Drive.and.Colby.Drive..It.then.follows.Colby.Drive.to.Deerbrooke.Drive.to.Caldwell.Road.until.Astral.Drive,.and.then.runs.southwest.through.Morris.Lake.
14.. Cumberland North:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.Northumberland.Strait..On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Cumberland/Colchester.County.line.until.a.point.north.of.Mattatall.Lake..On.the.south,.from.the.county.line,.the.boundary.runs.west.until.it.reaches.Wallace.River,.which.it.follows.north.until.a.point.where.Fountain.Road.and.Hunter.Road.meet..From.here,.it.runs.southwest,.parallel.to.Highway.368,.Middleboro.Road,.and.Hansford.Road,.through.Big.Lake.to.Jersey.Road..The.boundary.line.follows.this.street.north.until.Hansford.Road,.extends.northeast.until.Thomson.Road,.then.turns.northwest.until.River.Philip..It.follows.River.Philip.north,.then.turns.northwest,.
58 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
parallel.to.Casey.Road.until.Beckwith.Road.to.Mount.Pleasant.Road,.which.it.follows.north.until.Lake.Killarney.Road,.where.it.turns.southwest,.intersects.through.Klondike.Road,.then.turns.northwest.until.Nappan.River..It.then.follows.Nappan.River.to.Maccan.River.to.River.Hebert,.which.it.follows.into.Chignecto.Bay..On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Nova.Scotia–New.Brunswick.provincial.boundary.line.
15.. Cumberland South:.It.is.bounded.on.the.west.by.Chignecto.Bay.and.on.the.south.by.the.Minas.Channel.and.Minas.Basin.until.the.Colchester/Cumberland.County.line..It.follows.the.county.line.east.and.northeast.until.a.point.north.of.Mattatall.Lake..On.the.north,.from.the.county.line,.the.boundary.runs.west.until.it.reaches.Wallace.River,.which.it.follows.north.until.a.point.where.Fountain.Road.and.Hunter.Road.meet..From.here,.it.runs.southwest,.parallel.to.Highway.368,.Middleboro.Road,.and.Hansford.Road,.through.Big.Lake.to.Jersey.Road..The.boundary.line.follows.this.street.north.until.Hansford.Road,.extends.northeast.until.Thomson.Road,.then.turns.northwest.until.River.Philip..It.follows.River.Philip.north.until.Lake.Killarney.Road.where.it.turns.southwest,.intersects.through.Klondike.Road,.then.turns.northwest.until.Nappan.River..It.then.follows.Nappan.River.to.Maccan.River.to.River.Hebert,.which.it.follows.into.Chignecto.Bay.
16.. Dartmouth East:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.from.Highway.118,.running.south.of.Spider.Lake.to.Lake.Major..It.runs.through.Lake.Major.until.the.community.boundaries.of.Waverley.and.Montague.Gold.Mines.intersect..It.then.runs.southwest.for.approximately.3800.metres.until.it.reaches.the.Forest.Hills.Extension..It.follows.this.road.southeast.until.a.point.south.of.Lochmoor.Lane..From.this.point.it.turns.southwest.and.runs.along.the.outside.of.St..Claire.Avenue.and.Geovex.Court.until.it.reaches.Caledonia.Road,.which.it.follows.south.to.Main.Street..It.follows.Main.Street.east.until.it.turns.south.and.runs.along.Lucien.Drive.to.Bell.Lake,.which.it.runs.through,.extending.out.to.Portland.Street..The.southern.boundary.runs.from.Portland.Street.to.Highway.111..On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.Highway.111.to.Lake.Micmac,.through.Lake.Micmac,.through.the.Shubenacadie.Canal,.and.through.Lake.Charles.to.Highway.118.
17.. Dartmouth North:.On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.Bedford.Basin.and.The.Narrows..On.the.north,.from.the.Bedford.Basin,.the.boundary.follows.Wright.Brook.until.where.it.intersects.the.rail.line..From.this.point,.it.follows.the.rail.line.north.to.a.point.northeast.of.Anderson.Lake..It.then.turns.east,.and.runs.parallel.to.the.Dartmouth.community.boundary.into.Lake.Charles..On.the.east,.the.boundary.runs.south.through.Lake.Charles,.the.Shubenacadie.Canal,.Lake.Micmac,.and.Lake.Banook,.extending.to.Hawthorne.Street..From.this.point,.it.follows.Hawthorne.Street.to.Crichton.Avenue.to.Crichton.Park.Road.to.Thistle.Street.to.Wyse.Road.to.the.Angus.L..Macdonald.Bridge.to.Halifax.Harbour.
18.. Dartmouth-Preston:.Along.the.north,.from.Three.Mile.Lake,.it.runs.east,.south.of.Lake.Williams.and.East.Lake,.until.it.reaches.the.northern.tip.of.Porters.Lake..On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.Porters.Lake.until.it.reaches.Grapevine.Lane..It.turns.left,.parallel.to.Grapevine.Lane,.until.the.northwestern.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 59
point.of.Grand.Lake,.where.it.turns.south.and.runs.along.the.Porters.Lake.and.Minesville.community.boundary.until.north.of.Caribou.Lake..It.then.turns.west.and.then.south.along.the.outside.of.Goose.Lake..It.turns.west.until.it.intersects.with.Candy.Mountain.Road,.which.it.follows.until.the.northern.tip.of.Lawrencetown.Lake..From.this.point,.it.runs.west.through.Gammon.Lake.and.north,.parallel.to.Glenn.Drive.and.Shepherds.Lane.until.Highway.107..It.then.runs.west.along.Highway.107.to.a.point.south.of.Chater.Drive..From.here,.it.runs.south,.parallel.to.the.Lawrencetown.community.boundary.until.it.reaches.the.intersection.of.Cole.Harbour.Road.and.Ross.Road..From.this.point,.it.turns.northwest.and.runs.parallel.to.the.Westphal.community.boundary,.wrapping.around.Lawlor.Crescent.to.an.unidentified.brook..It.follows.this.brook.northwest.to.a.point.250.metres.northeast.of.Ritcey.Crescent,.then.turns.southwest,.running.between.Ritcey.Crescent.and.Old.Lawrencetown.Road.until.Tamara.Drive..It.then.follows.Tamara.Drive.to.Gammon.Crescent.to.Roseway.Court,.wraps.around.Sophia.Crescent.to.Auburn.Drive.to.Bradorian.Drive,.then.back.to.Auburn.Drive.to.Taranaki.Drive,.which.it.wraps.around.to.Highway.7..From.this.point,.it.runs.southwest.along.Highway.7.to.Main.Street.until.Caledonia.Road..On.the.west,.it.runs.along.Caledonia.Road.to.just.before.Geovex.Court,.where.it.turns.northeast,.running.along.the.outside.of.St..Claire.Avenue,.continuing.northeast.to.Forest.Hills.Extension..It.then.follows.this.road.northwest.to.a.point.south.of.Wilcot.Lane,.where.it.turns.northeast,.running.parallel.to.Burnhope.Drive.and.onto.Lake.Major..It.then.runs.north.through.Lake.Major,.East.Lake,.Long.Duck.Lake,.and.Three.Mile.Lake.
19.. Dartmouth South:.On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.Halifax.Harbour..On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Angus.L.Macdonald.Bridge.to.Wyse.Road.to.Thistle.Street.to.Crichton.Park.Road.to.Crichton.Avenue.to.Hawthorne.Street..It.then.runs.through.Lake.Banook.until.it.reaches.Highway.111..Along.the.east.it.is.bounded.by.Highway.111.to.Portland.Street.to.Eisner.Boulevard.to.Portland.Estates.Boulevard.West.through.Morris.Lake..Along.the.south.it.runs.along.the.outside.of.the.Shearwater.airport,.turns.northwest.and.runs.parallel.to.the.south.of.Mount.Hope.Avenue.to.Highway.111.to.Halifax.Harbour.
20.. East Nova:.On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Strait.of.Canso.and.Chedabucto.Bay..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.west,.from.Ship.Harbour.(Atlantic.Ocean),.the.boundary.runs.through.Newcombe.Lake.to.the.Tangier.Grand.Lake.Wilderness.Area.southern.boundary..It.follows.this.boundary.east.and.north.to.a.point.south.of.Bear.Lake..It.continues.north,.parallel.to.Mooseland.Road.until.the.northern.tip.of.Second.Rocky.Lake..It.then.turns.east,.and.runs.between.Lower.Beaver.and.Middle.Beaver.Lakes.before.intersecting.Highway.224..From.this.point.it.continues.northeast,.running.south.of.Como.Lake.and.Smith.Lake.before.intersecting.Highway.374.and.then.reaching.the.Halifax/Guysborough.County.line..It.then.follows.the.county.line.northwest.until.it.intersects.the.Pictou.County.line..On.the.north,.it.follows.the.Pictou/Antigonish.County.lines.until.the.Tracadie.River..The.boundary.then.turns.north,.and.follows.the.river.into.Tracadie.Harbour.
21.. Eastern Shore:.On.the.north,.from.the.northern.tip.of.Porters.Lake,.the.boundary.runs.northeast.through.the.northern.shores.of.Burnt.Lake.and.Gibraltar.Lake,.intersecting.Highway.357,.continuing.northeast.along.the.northern.shores.of.Grand.Lake,.Ship.Harbour.Long.Lake,.and.Scraggy.Lake.to.
60 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
the.northern.tip.of.Second.Rocky.Lake..On.the.east,.the.boundary.runs.south,.parallel.to.Mooseland.Drive.until.a.point.south.of.Bear.Lake..The.boundary.then.runs.south.and.west.along.the.outside.of.the.Tangier.Grand.Lake.Wilderness.Area.boundary.to.Newcombe.Lake.and.into.Ship.Harbour..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.west,.from.Cole.Harbour.(Atlantic.Ocean),.the.boundary.runs.north.and.east,.around.Lawlor.Crescent.and.Old.Miller.Road.to.a.point.where.Cole.Harbour.Road.turns.into.Lawrencetown.Road..From.this.point,.the.boundary.follows.the.Lawrencetown.community.boundary.to.a.point.west.of.Lawrencetown.Lake..The.boundary.runs.along.the.northern.boundary.of.Lawrencetown.Lake.to.a.point.west.of.Goose.Lake,.which.it.wraps.around.to.a.point.just.north.of.Caribou.Lake,.where.it.turns.north.and.runs.along.the.western.and.northern.shores.of.Grand.Lake,.and.into.Porters.Lake,.where.it.continues.north.until.its.starting.point.
22.. Fairview-Clayton Park:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.Bedford.Basin.(Halifax.Harbour)..On.the.west,.from.Bedford.Basin,.the.boundary.runs.west,.parallel.to.Melody.Drive.and.Canary.Crescent..It.then.turns.south.and.west.and.runs.parallel.to.Chartwell.Lane.until.Lacewood.Drive..It.then.follows.Lacewood.Drive.west.until.Mainland.North.Linear.Parkway,.which.it.follows.south.until.a.point.just.west.of.Birkdale.Crescent..From.this.point,.it.turns.west.and.runs.along.the.outside.of.Regency.Park.Drive.and.Greenpark.Close.until.it.reaches.Highway.102..On.the.south,.it.then.follows.Highway.102.east.to.Bayers.Road.until.Connaught.Avenue..On.the.east,.it.follows.Connaught.Avenue.to.Windsor.Street.to.the.Bedford.Highway.until.it.intersects.the.rail.line,.which.it.follows.to.a.point.just.north.of.the.Joseph.Howe.Drive.exit,.and.then.extends.into.Bedford.Basin.
23.. Glace Bay:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.Big.Glace.Bay..On.the.south,.from.Big.Glace.Bay.the.boundary.runs.west.along.the.Donkin.Morien.Highway.to.Brookside.Street..From.this.point,.the.boundary.follows.the.Glace.Bay.community.boundary.west.and.north,.back.to.the.Atlantic.Ocean.
24.. Halifax Armdale:.On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.Northwest.Arm.through.the.Armdale.Rotary.to.Chebucto.Road,.then.follows.the.railroad.tracks.until.the.end.of.Pennington.Street..On.the.north,.it.follows.Highway.102.until.it.intersects.Highway.103,.which.it.follows.south.to.a.point.north.of.Grassy.Lake.Drive..The.boundary.then.turns.east.to.a.point.just.beyond.Prospect.Road,.then.turns.south.and.east.as.it.runs.through.Long.Lake.to.the.Northwest.Arm.Drive.and.Old.Sambro.Road.intersection..On.the.south,.it.runs.northwest.along.Northwest.Arm.Drive.to.a.point.just.beyond.Penny.Avenue..It.then.turns.northeast.and.runs.along.the.outside.of.Trelyn.Road,.Hillary.Street,.and.Mont.Street.to.Punch.Bowl.Drive..It.follows.Punch.Bowl.Drive.to.Herring.Cove.Road.to.McMullen.Road,.around.Circle.Drive.to.Seaview.Avenue.to.Aurora.Avenue,.along.the.outside.of.Joyce.Avenue.and.Raithpark.Lane.to.a.point.west.of.Ballantrae.Lane..The.boundary.then.runs.along.the.outside.of.Ballantrae.Lane.and.Forward.Avenue.to.Purcells.Cove.Road..It.follows.Purcells.Cove.Road.northwest.until.a.point.west.of.Frog.Pond,.where.it.turns.northeast,.runs.through.Frog.Pond,.parallel.to.Parkhill.Road.and.Dingle.Road.and.out.to.the.Northwest.Arm.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 61
25.. Halifax Atlantic:.On.the.north,.it.runs.through.Long.Lake.to.the.Northwest.Arm.Drive.and.Old.Sambro.Road.intersection..It.then.runs.northwest.along.Northwest.Arm.Drive.to.a.point.just.beyond.Penny.Avenue..It.then.turns.northeast.and.runs.along.the.outside.of.Trelyn.Road,.Hillary.Street,.and.Mont.Street.to.Punch.Bowl.Drive..It.follows.Punch.Bowl.Drive.to.Herring.Cove.Road.to.McMullen.Road,.around.Circle.Drive.to.Seaview.Avenue.to.Aurora.Avenue,.along.the.outside.of.Joyce.Avenue.and.Raithpark.Lane.to.a.point.west.of.Ballantrae.Lane..The.boundary.then.runs.along.the.outside.of.Ballantrae.Lane.and.Forward.Avenue.to.Purcells.Cove.Road..It.follows.Purcells.Cove.Road.northwest.until.a.point.west.of.Frog.Pond,.where.it.turns.northeast,.runs.through.Frog.Pond,.parallel.to.Parkhill.Road.and.Dingle.Road.and.out.to.the.Northwest.Arm..On.the.east.and.south.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.west,.from.the.Atlantic.Ocean.it.runs.from.the.western.edge.of.West.Pennant.to.the.east.shore.of.Ragged.Lake,.through.The.Two.Lakes,.through.Moody.Lake,.then.follows.a.river.along.the.north.shore.of.Run.Lake,.through.Sheas.Lake,.through.Spruce.Hill.Lake,.and.through.Long.Lake.Provincial.Park.until.the.western.shore.of.Long.Lake.
26.. Halifax Chebucto:.On.the.south,.from.the.Northwest.Arm.it.follows.Coburg.Road.to.Robie.Street..On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.Robie.Street.until.it.intersects.Young.Street..On.the.north,.it.follows.Young.Street.to.Windsor.Street.to.Bayers.Road.to.the.railroad.tracks..In.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.railroad.tracks.to.Chebucto.Road.through.the.Armdale.Rotary.to.the.Northwest.Arm.
27.. Halifax Citadel-Sable Island:.On.the.east.and.south,.it.is.bounded.by.Halifax.Harbour..On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Northwest.Arm..On.the.north,.from.the.Northwest.Arm.it.follows.Coburg.Road.to.Robie.Street.to.Cogswell.Street.to.Rainnie.Drive.to.Duke.Street,.and.extends.into.Halifax.Harbour..This.district.also.includes.Georges.Island.and.Sable.Island.
28.. Halifax Needham:.It.is.bounded.along.the.north.and.east.by.Halifax.Harbour..On.the.south,.it.follows.Duke.Street.from.the.Narrows.to.Rainnie.Drive.to.Cogswell.Street.to.Robie.Street..In.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.Robie.Street.to.Young.Street.to.Bayers.Road.to.Connaught.Avenue..It.then.follows.Connaught.Avenue.north.to.Windsor.Street.to.the.Bedford.Highway.to.the.rail.line,.and.extends.out.into.Bedford.Basin.(Halifax.Harbour).
29.. Hammonds Plains-Lucasville:.On.the.west,.it.runs.south.from.Pockwock.Lake,.through.Wrights.Lake,.and.follows.the.Upper.Tantallon.and.Head.of.St..Margaret’s.Bay.community.boundary,.continuing.south.until.Highway.103..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.by.Highway.103.until.a.point.south.of.Telford.Lane..From.this.point,.the.boundary.runs.north.for.approximately.1500.metres.and.then.turns.right.through.Maple.Lake,.slightly.north.of.Frasers.Lake,.to.a.point.before.the.southwest.shore.of.Ash.Lake..On.the.east,.it.follows.the.Timberlea.community.boundary.north.and.east,.just.beyond.Ash.Lake,.where.it.turns.north.and.follows.an.unidentified.track.north.until.it.reaches.the.eastern.boundary.of.the.community.of.Hammonds.Plains..It.then.follows.this.community.boundary.around.Collins.Road.and.Belle.Street.until.it.reaches.Kearney.Lake.Road,.which.it.follows.south.until.it.reaches.the.northern.shore.of.Kearney.Lake,.which.it.follows.east.to.an.unidentified.stream.to.Highway.102..It.
62 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
then.turns.north.and.follows.Highway.102.until.it.reaches.a.point.west.of.Paper.Mill.Lake..It.then.runs.west.until.it.intersects.Bluewater.Road,.where.it.turns.northwest.and.runs.parallel.to.Kearney.Lake.Road.until.it.intersects.Hammonds.Plains.Road..From.this.point,.it.runs.northeast,.parallel.to.Farmers.Dairy.Lane,.then.continues.along.the.outside.of.the.northwestern.shores.of.Sandy.Lake.and.Marsh.Lake.until.it.reaches.the.Sackville.River..It.then.follows.the.Sackville.River.west.and.north.until.Highway.101,.which.it.follows.northwest.until.a.point.before.the.Mount.Uniacke.connector..On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Hants/Halifax.County.line.through.Pockwock.Lake.
30.. Hants East:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Bay.of.Fundy..On.the.east.and.south.it.is.bounded.by.the.Hants.County.line..On.the.west.it.is.bounded.by.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.East.Hants.municipal.line.
31.. Hants West:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Bay.of.Fundy..On.the.east,.south,.and.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.West.Hants.municipal.line.
32. Inverness:.It.is.entirely.bounded.by.the.Inverness.County.line.until.it.reaches.the.Town.of.Port.Hawkesbury.community.boundary,.which.it.follows.around.the.town.until.it.again.reaches.the.Inverness.County.line.
33.. Kings North:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Bay.of.Fundy.and.on.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Minas.Basin.(Bay.of.Fundy)..On.the.south,.from.the.Minas.Basin,.the.boundary.runs.west.following.the.Cornwallis.River.to.the.Town.of.Kentville.municipal.boundary,.which.it.follows.south.and.west,.so.as.to.include.the.Town.of.Kentville..The.boundary.then.continues.west,.following.the.Cornwallis.River.to.Highway.101,.which.it.follows.until.Black.Rock.Road..On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.Black.Rock.Road.
34.. Kings South:.On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Minas.Basin.(Bay.of.Fundy).and.the.Avon.River..On.the.north,.from.the.Minas.Basin,.the.boundary.runs.west.following.the.Cornwallis.River.to.the.Town.of.Kentville.municipal.boundary,.which.it.follows.south.and.west,.so.as.not.to.include.the.Town.of.Kentville.within.the.district.boundaries..The.boundary.then.continues.west,.following.the.Cornwallis.River.to.Highway.101.until.a.point.west.of.Ratchford.Road..On.the.west,.the.boundary.runs.south,.parallel.to.Smith.Avenue,.Miller.Lane,.and.Joudrey.Mountain.Road.until.it.reaches.Randolph.Road..It.then.follows.Sharpe.Brook.south.to.Little.Brown.Road..From.this.point,.it.continues.south.for.approximately.5500.metres.until.North.River.Road,.where.it.continues.south.between.Aylesford.Lake.and.Gaspereau.Lake,.where.it.turns.southeast.to.the.Kings/Lunenburg.County.Line..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Kings.County.line.
35.. Kings West:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Bay.of.Fundy..On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.Black.Rock.Road,.east.to.Highway.101.to.a.point.west.of.Ratchford.Road..From.this.point,.the.boundary.runs.south,.parallel.to.Smith.Avenue,.Miller.Lane,.and.Joudrey.Mountain.Road.until.it.reaches.Randolph.Road..It.then.follows.Sharpe.Brook.south.to.Little.Brown.Road..From.this.point,.it.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 63
continues.south.for.approximately.5500.metres.until.North.River.Road,.where.it.continues.south.between.Aylesford.Lake.and.Gaspereau.Lake,.where.it.turns.southeast.to.the.Kings/Lunenburg.County.line..On.the.south.and.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Kings.County.line.
36.. Lunenburg:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Lunenburg.County.line..On.the.west,.from.a.point.just.west.of.Highway.10,.it.follows.the.rail.line.southeast.to.New.Germany.Lake,.then.west.of.LaHave.River.until.the.intersection.of.Osborne.Road.and.Veinot.Road..It.then.follows.the.LaHave.River.and.does.not.include.the.Town.of.Bridgewater,.following.the.eastern.town.boundary.back.to.the.river.and.following.the.west.shore.of.the.river.to.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean,.and.on.the.east.it.is.bounded.by.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Lunenburg.eastern.boundary.
37.. Lunenburg West:.It.is.bounded.on.the.north.by.the.Annapolis/Lunenburg.County.line,.starting.at.the.intersection.of.the.Annapolis/Lunenburg/Queens.County.line.and.running.northeast.to.the.rail.line..It.follows.the.rail.line.southeast.to.New.Germany.Lake,.then.west.of.LaHave.River.until.the.intersection.of.Osborne.Road.and.Veinot.Road..It.then.follows.the.LaHave.River.and.includes.the.Town.of.Bridgewater,.following.the.eastern.town.boundary.back.to.the.river.and.following.the.west.shore.of.the.river.to.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Lunenburg/.Queens.County.line.
38.. Northside-Westmount:.The.northern.boundary.starts.at.Alder.Point.and.follows.the.coastline.east.into.Sydney.Harbour.until.it.intersects.with.Highway.125..It.then.follows.Highway.125.northwest.until.it.intersects.with.Highway.105..It.follows.Highway.105.west.until.it.reaches.Little.Bras.d’Or,.then.turns.north.along.the.coast.to.Alder.Point.
39.. Pictou Centre:.On.the.north,.from.the.East.River.of.Pictou,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Town.of.Trenton.municipal.boundary..On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Town.of.Trenton.and.The.Town.of.New.Glasgow.municipal.boundaries.until.the.East.River.of.Pictou..From.this.point,.the.boundary.follows.the.Town.of.Stellarton.municipal.boundary.south..On.the.south.and.west,.it.continues.following.the.Town.of.Stellarton’s.municipal.boundary.until.it.intersects.with.the.Town.of.New.Glasgow’s.municipal.boundary.once.again..It.continues.following.this.boundary.north.until.it.reaches.the.East.River.of.Pictou,.where.it.again.follows.the.Town.of.Trenton’s.municipal.boundary.north.until.the.mouth.of.the.East.River.of.Pictou.
40.. Pictou East:.On.the.west,.from.just.north.of.where.the.Halifax.County.boundary.intersects.the.Pictou/Colchester.County.boundary,.the.boundary.runs.northeast.for.approximately.13.kilometres.to.a.point.where.Glengarry.Road.intersects.with.the.Glengarry.Station–Lorne.community.boundary..From.this.point,.it.runs.north.following.White.Hill.Road.until.it.intersects.with.Marshdale.Road..The.boundary.then.turns.northeast.and.runs.for.approximately.2800.metres.until.it.reaches.Halliday.Road,.which.it.follows.to.Foxbrook.Road.until.the.Town.of.Westville.municipal.boundary..From.this.
64 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
point,.it.wraps.around.the.Town.of.Westville,.so.as.to.include.it..It.follows.the.Town.of.Westville.boundary.until.it.intersects.the.southern.border.of.The.Town.of.Stellarton.municipal.boundary..It.follows.this.boundary.east.and.north.to.The.Town.of.New.Glasgow.municipal.boundary,.which.it.follows.east.and.north.to.the.Town.of.Trenton.municipal.boundary,.which.it.follows.north.and.west.to.the.East.River.of.Pictou.and.into.Northumberland.Strait..On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.Northumberland.Strait..On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Pictou/Antigonish.County.line,.and.on.the.south.it.is.bounded.by.the.Pictou/Guysborough.County.line.
41.. Pictou West:.It.is.bounded.on.the.north.by.Northumberland.Strait.from.the.Colchester/.Pictou.County.lines.to.the.mouth.of.Pictou.Harbour..It.is.bounded.on.the.west.by.the.Colchester/Pictou.County.line,.running.from.the.shoreline.of.Northumberland.Strait.south.to.a.point.along.the.Colchester/Pictou.County.line,.just.north.of.the.Halifax.County.line..On.the.east,.it.runs.northeast.for.approximately.13.kilometres.to.a.point.where.Glengarry.Road.intersects.with.the.Glengarry.Station–Lorne.community.boundary..From.this.point,.it.runs.north.following.White.Hill.Road.until.it.intersects.with.Marshdale.Road..The.boundary.then.turns.northeast,.and.runs.for.approximately.2800.metres.until.it.reaches.Halliday.Road,.which.it.follows.to.Foxbrook.Road.until.the.Town.of.Westville.municipal.boundary..From.this.point,.it.wraps.around.the.municipal.boundary,.not.including.the.Town.of.Westville.within.its.boundaries..It.follows.the.Town.of.Westville’s.north.border.to.The.Town.of.Stellarton.municipal.boundary.to.the.western.borders.of.The.Town.of.New.Glasgow.and.the.Town.of.Trenton,.which.run.into.the.East.River.of.Pictou.and.onto.Northumberland.Strait.
42.. Queens-Shelburne:.It.is.bounded.on.the.south.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Queens/Lunenburg.County.line..On.the.north,.it.follows.the.Queens/Annapolis.County.line.west.until.it.intersects.with.the.Albany.New.community.boundary..It.follows.this.boundary.north.until.Mersey.Road..It.continues.north.until.the.end.of.this.road,.then.runs.west,.following.an.unidentified.brook.to.an.unidentified.lake..It.then.continues.west,.following.the.northern.boundaries.of.Northfield,.Maitland.Bridge.and.Kejimkujik.National.Park.until.the.Annapolis/Digby.County.line,.which.it.follows.south.to.the.northern.boundary.of.the.Queens.County.line..From.this.point,.it.turns.west.following.the.northern.boundaries.of.Queens.County.and.Shelburne.County.until.it.intersects.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Barrington.municipal.line..On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.eastern.boundary.of.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Barrington.
43.. Sackville:.On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.Highway.101..On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Halifax/Hants.County.line..On.the.east,.it.follows.the.rail.line.southeast.until.a.point.west.of.Sidhu.Drive..From.this.point,.the.boundary.turns.east.to.Beaver.Bank.Road,.which.it.follows.to.Galloway.Drive,.where.it.follows.an.unidentified.brook.to.Box.Mill.Brook.to.the.point.where.the.Beaver.Bank.and.Windsor.Junction.community.boundaries.intersect..From.this.point,.the.boundary.runs.south.and.west,.following.the.Beaver.Bank.community.boundary.until.it.reaches.Millwood.Drive..From.this.point,.it.follows.Beaver.Bank.Road.south.to.Highway.101.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 65
44.. Sackville-Cobequid:.On.the.east,.it.is.bounded.by.Highway.102.until.it.intersects.Highway.101..On.the.south,.it.is.bounded.by.Highway.101.to.the.Sackville.River.to.Beaver.Bank.Road..On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.Beaver.Bank.Road.to.Millwood.Drive,.where.it.continues.north.following.the.Sackville.community.boundary..Along.the.north,.it.follows.the.Sackville.community.boundary.east,.and.south.intersecting.Cobequid.Road,.running.along.Lakeview.Road.to.Highway.102...
45.. Sydney:.On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.Sydney.Harbour..On.the.north,.from.Sydney.Harbour,.the.boundary.follows.the.Sydney.community.boundary,.running.between.Grant.Street.and.Birchwood.Lane,.parallel.to.MacLeods.Hill.until.the.Lingan.Road.community.boundary..It.continues.east.along.the.community.boundary.for.approximately.500.metres.and.then.turns.south,.where.it.reconnects.with.the.Lingan.Road.community.boundary,.running.parallel.to.Dryden.Avenue..It.continues.following.the.community.boundary.south.until.a.point.south.of.Military.Road,.at.which.it.turns.south.and.runs.for.approximately.2300.metres,.intersecting.the.Sydney.Port.Access.Road,.until.Grand.Lake.Road..It.then.follows.Grand.Lake.Road.west.to.Reeves.Street,.where.it.runs.south.along.Reeves.Street.to.Upper.Prince.Street,.southwest.along.Upper.Prince.Street.just.past.the.intersection.with.Centennial.Drive,.where.it.turns.south.and.southeast,.connecting.to.Highway.125.at.a.point.south.of.Cossitt.Heights.Drive..It.follows.Highway.125.south.to.exit.8,.turns.northwest.and.follows.the.Sydney.community.boundary.to.the.Membertou.community.boundary.to.the.southwestern.point.where.the.Sydney.and.Membertou.community.boundaries.intersect..Heading.northwest,.it.follows.the.southern.extent.of.the.Sydney.community.boundary.to.the.shoreline.of.Sydney.Harbour.
46.. Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg:.On.the.south,.from.the.Atlantic.Ocean,.it.follows.the.Richmond/Cape.Breton.County.line.northwest.until.the.Mira.River..It.follows.the.Mira.River.north.until.it.reaches.Morley.Road,.which.it.follows.to.Kings.Road.(Highway.4).to.Eskasoni.Road..It.turns.northwest.and.follows.the.Portage.community.boundary.to.the.Blacketts.Lake.community.boundary,.turning.northwest.for.approximately.700.metres..It.then.turns.northeast.and.intersects.Coxheath.Road.north.of.where.Portage.Brook.merges.with.the.Sydney.River..The.boundary.turns.north.and.runs.to.the.intersection.of.Highway.125.and.Frenchvale.Road,.then.follows.Highway.125.northeast.to.Sydney.River,.where.it.turns.north.and.follows.the.shoreline.to.the.Sydney.community.boundary..It.follows.the.Sydney.community.boundary.east.to.the.Membertou.community.boundary,.then.northwest.along.the.Membertou.community.boundary.and.back.to.the.Sydney.community.boundary..It.follows.the.Sydney.community.boundary.to.exit.8.of.Highway.125,.then.follows.Highway.125.to.a.point.south.of.Cossitt.Heights.Drive,.where.it.turns.northwest.and.north.to.Prince.Street.near.the.intersection.with.Centennial.Drive..Following.Prince.Street.to.Reeves.Street,.it.runs.north.to.Grand.Lake.Road,.where.it.follows.Grand.Lake.Road.to.the.intersection.of.Highway.125.and.Highway.4..Heading.northeast.on.Highway.4.to.a.point.just.past.Garth.Wilson.Avenue,.it.turns.southeast.for.approximately.1200.metres,.then.turns.northeast,.running.parallel.to.Highway.4.until.the.property.line.of.the.Sydney.International.Airport..Following.the.airport.property.to.the.northeastern.boundary,.it.runs.east.and.connects.to.the.Glace.Bay.community.boundary,.where.it.then.follows.the.boundary.to.the.intersection.of.Birch.Grove.Road.and.Highway.255..It.then.
66 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
follows.Highway.255.to.the.shoreline.of.Big.Glace.Bay..It.is.bounded.on.the.north.and.east.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean.
47.. Timberlea-Prospect:.On.the.east,.from.the.Atlantic.Ocean,.it.runs.from.the.western.edge.of.West.Pennant.to.the.east.shore.of.Ragged.Lake,.through.The.Two.Lakes,.through.Moody.Lake,.follows.a.river.along.the.north.shore.of.Run.Lake,.goes.through.Sheas.Lake,.through.Spruce.Hill.Lake,.and.through.Long.Lake.Provincial.Park.along.the.western.shore.of.Long.Lake.to.St.Margaret’s.Bay.Road..From.this.point,.it.turns.northwest.to.Highway.103.and.wraps.around.Bayers.Lake.Industrial.Park.to.a.point.just.north.of.where.Highway.102.and.Chain.Lake.Drive.intersect..It.then.follows.Highway.102.north.to.a.point.east.of.Washmill.Lake..On.the.north,.it.runs.west.from.Highway.102.through.Washmill.Lake,.south.of.Ash.Lake,.slightly.north.of.Frasers.Lake,.and.through.Maple.Lake.to.a.point.northeast.of.Sussex.Drive,.where.it.turns.south.to.Highway.103..It.then.follows.Highway.103.west.until.it.intersects.Hammonds.Plains.Road..On.the.west,.it.follows.Hammonds.Plains.Road.south.until.St..Margaret’s.Bay.Road..From.this.point,.the.boundary.runs.southeast.in.a.straight.line.through.the.eastern.shore.of.Long.Lake,.through.Big.Five.Bridge.Lake,.and.Moores.Lake.to.Upper.Pond,.through.which.it.runs.into.Shad.Bay,.which.it.follows.to.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.south.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean.
48.. Truro-Bible Hill:.On.the.north,.from.the.mouth.of.the.Cobequid.Bay,.it.runs.east.following.the.Salmon.River.and.the.northern.Truro.community.boundary.to.the.Bible.Hill.community.boundary,.which.it.follows.east,.south,.and.west.to.a.point.just.south.of.Warren.Drive..From.this.point,.it.runs.southeast.for.approximately.2300.metres.until.it.reaches.the.intersection.of.the.community.boundaries.for.Truro,.Salmon.River,.and.Murray.Siding..It.continues.following.the.Truro.community.boundary.south.and.west.until.it.reaches.the.Millbrook.27.Reserve..It.follows.this.boundary.west.and.north.until.it.reconnects.with.the.Truro.community.boundary,.which.it.follows.north.into.Cobequid.Bay.
49.. Victoria-The Lakes:.It.is.bounded.on.the.west.by.the.Inverness/Victoria.County.line,.starting.in.the.south.at.Little.Narrows.on.the.Bras.d’Or.Lakes.and.heading.north.to.Meat.Cove..It.is.bounded.on.the.north.from.Meat.Cove.and.follows.the.shoreline.southeast.to.the.mouth.of.St..Andrew’s.Channel.at.Point.Aconi..The.boundary.then.heads.south,.following.the.west.side.of.St..Andrew’s.Channel.to.where.it.intersects.with.Highway.105,.then.follows.Highway.105.east.to.Highway.125..It.follows.Highway.125.to.where.it.intersects.with.Frenchvale.Road,.turning.south.and.running.to.a.point.on.Coxheath.Road.north.of.where.Portage.Brook.merges.with.Sydney.River..The.boundary.then.turns.southwest.to.a.point.on.the.Blacketts.Lake.community.boundary.approximately.700.metres.northwest.of.the.boundary.between.Gillis.Lake.and.Blacketts.Lake.communities,.turning.southeast.to.the.Portage.community.line..It.follows.the.Portage.community.line.southwest.to.the.intersection.of.Highway.4.and.Highway.216,.then.follows.the.shoreline.of.the.Bras.d’Or.Lake.south.and.west.to.where.the.Inverness/Victoria.County.line.intersects.with.the.lake.shoreline.near.Little.Narrows.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 67
50.. Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank:.On.the.north,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Hants/Halifax.County.line..On.the.east,.it.follows.Highway.102.south.until.it.intersects.Aerotech.Drive..From.this.point,.the.boundary.runs.southeast.until.it.reaches.an.unidentified.brook,.which.it.follows.south.through.Soldier.Lake..It.then.turns.east.at.the.southern.point.of.Soldier.Lake.and.runs.along.the.northern.borders.of.the.communities.of.Waverley.and.Preston.to.Three.Mile.Lake..On.the.east,.the.boundary.runs.south.through.Three.Mile.Lake,.Long.Duck.Lake,.and.East.Lake,.where.it.turns.west.and.runs.through.Lake.Major,.parallel.to.Willowhill.Ridge,.to.Highway.118..It.follows.Highway.118.south.to.a.point.west.of.Lake.Charles,.where.it.runs.west.for.approximately.2000.metres,.until.it.reaches.the.rail.line.northeast.of.Anderson.Lake..It.then.follows.the.rail.line.south.to.Windmill.Road..On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.Windmill.Road.to.the.Bedford.Bypass.to.the.railroad.to.Rocky.Lake.Drive,.around.Quarrystone.Drive.and.back.to.Rocky.Lake.Drive,.and.through.Rocky.Lake.until.Highway.102..From.this.point.it.follows.Highway.102.northeast.to.Lakeview.Road.to.Cobequid.Road.to.a.point.west.of.the.railroad..It.then.runs.northwest,.parallel.to.the.rail.line,.turns.west.through.Second.Lake,.turns.northeast,.parallel.to.Capilano.Drive.and.Briancrest.Road,.to.Box.Mill.Brook,.which.it.follows.west.to.an.unidentified.brook,.which.runs.west.parallel.to.Galloway.Drive.to.Beaver.Bank.Road..It.then.turns.south,.and.follows.Beaver.Bank.Road.until.it.reaches.Sidhu.Drive..From.this.point,.it.turns.west.and.runs.approximately.1000.metres.west.to.the.rail.line..From.this.point.it.follows.the.rail.line.northwest.to.the.Hants/Halifax.County.line.
51.. Yarmouth:.On.the.west,.it.is.bounded.by.the.Atlantic.Ocean..On.the.north,.from.the.Atlantic.Ocean,.the.boundary.follows.the.Yarmouth/Digby.County.line.until.it.intersects.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Argyle.municipal.line..On.the.east,.from.this.point,.it.runs.southwest,.following.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Yarmouth.and.the.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Argyle.municipal.line.to.the.Atlantic.Ocean.
68 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Appendix B: Public Meetings Schedule (first round)
Lower.Sackville:. Thursday,.March.15,.7–9.p.m..Location:.Sackville.Fire.Hall,.1.Metropolitan.Ave
Dartmouth:. Friday,.March.16,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Cole.Harbour.Place,.51.Forest.Hills.Parkway
Halifax:. Saturday,.March.17,.1–3.p.m..Location:.Quality.Inn.and.Suites,.980.Parkland.Drive
Cherry.Brook:.. Saturday,.March.17,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Black.Cultural.Centre,.10.Cherry.Brook.Road
Middleton:.. Saturday,.March.24,.1–3.p.m..Location:.Nova.Scotia.Community.College,.Annapolis.Valley.Campus,.295.Commercial.St
Amherst:. Saturday,.March.31,.1–3.p.m.. .Location:.Wandlyn.Inn,.Highway.104,.Exit.3
Stellarton:. Saturday,.March.31,.7–9.p.m..Location:.Holiday.Inn.Express,.86.Lawrence.Blvd
Halifax:.. Thursday,.April.12,.7-9.p.m..Location:.Old.Ashburn.Golf.Club
Louisdale:.. Friday,.April.13,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Louisdale.&.District.Fire.Hall,.Grand.Anse
Sydney:.. Saturday,.April.14,.1–3.p.m..Location:.Membertou.Trade.and.Convention.Centre,.50.Maillard.St
Baddeck:.. Saturday,.April.14,.6–.8.p.m...Location:.Inverary.Resort,.368.Shore.Road.
Tusket:. Thursday,.April.19,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Salle.Père-Maurice-LeBlanc.in.Centre.communautaire.de.Par-en-Bas.,.4258,.Route.308
Church.Point/Pointe.de.l’Église:.. Friday,.April.20,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Université.Sainte.Anne,.1695,.Route.1
Bridgewater:.. Saturday,.April.21,.1–3.p.m... .Location:.NSCC,.Lunenburg.Campus,.75.High.St
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 69
Appendix C: Public Meetings Schedule (second round)
Port.Hawkesbury:. Tuesday,.August.7,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Port.Hawkesbury.Civic.Centre,.606.Reeves.Street
Westville:. Wednesday,.August.8,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Westville.Civic.Centre,.2042.Queen.Street
Sydney:. Thursday,.August.9,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Ukrainian.Hall,.51.West.Street
Halifax:.. Monday,.August.13,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Atlantica.Hotel.Halifax,.1980.Robie.Street
Yarmouth:.. Monday,.August.13,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Mariners.Centre,.31.Cottage.Street
Bridgewater:. Tuesday,.August.14,.6–8.p.m.. .Location:.Best.Western.Plus.Bridgewater.Hotel.and.Convention.Centre,.527.Highway.10,.Exit.12
Church.Point/Pointe.de.l’Église:. Tuesday,.August.14,.6–8.p.m..Location:.Université.Ste..Anne,.Gymnasium,.1695.Route.1
Dartmouth:.. Wednesday,.August.15,.6-8.p.m..Location:.Holiday.Inn.Halifax,.Harbourview.and.Conference.Centre,.101.Wyse.Road
Annapolis.Royal:. Thursday,.August.16,.6-8.p.m..Location:.Annapolis.Royal.Fire.Hall,.5.Saint.Anthony.Street
70 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Appendix D: Presenters (first round, in order of presentation)
Lower Sackville, Thursday, March 15
The.Honourable.Percy.Paris,.Minister.of.Economic.and.Rural.Development.and.Tourism,..MLA,.Waverley-Fall.River-Beaver.Bank
Mike.CormierStephen.TaylorAnthony.BensonPatrick.DoyleMat.Whynott,.MLA,.Hammonds.Plains-Upper.SackvilleSteve.CraigAnthony.MartinPaul.Russell
Dartmouth, Friday, March 16, 2012
Becky.Kent,.MLA,.Cole.Harbour-Eastern.PassageMike.TriderRobert.HarpelleDoug.WilliamsBarry.AlexanderJ..Dianne.GeddesJim.Geddes
Halifax, Saturday, March 17, 2012
Claude.Renard,.President,.Conseil.Communautaire.du.Grand-HarveJules.Chiasson,.Executive.Director,.Conseil.Communautaire.du.Grand-HarveMary.Ann.McGrathHoward.Epstein,.MLA,.Halifax.ChebuctoPeter.ChristieJoan.ChristieKevin.Lacey,.Atlantic.Director,.Canadian.Taxpayers.FederationColin.O’NeilMichael.KennedyDiana.Whalen,.MLA,.Halifax-Clayton.ParkPeter.Bragg
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 71
Cherry Brook, Saturday, March 17, 2012
Connor.SmithersmappYvonne.Atwell,.East.Preston.Ratepayers.AssociationConrad.GrosseAlma.JohnstonDolly.WilliamsPastor.Wayne.Desmond
Middleton, Saturday, March 24, 2012
D..Kent.RobinsonLinda.GregoryDarrell.HannamThe.Honourable.Ramona.Jennex,.Minister.of.Education,.MLA,.Kings.SouthThe.Honourable.Stephen.R..McNeil,.Leader.of.the.Official.Opposition,.MLA,.Annapolis
Amherst, Saturday, March 31, 2012
Gary.MillerPaul.Giroux
Stellarton, Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wayne.Pierce,.President,.Pictou.West.Constituency.Association,.New.Democratic.PartyMaurice.(Moe).Smith,.MLA,.Antigonish
Halifax, Thursday, April 12, 2012
David.Finlayson,.Bedford-Birch.Cove.Progressive.Conservative.AssociationStephen.CainesElaine.Loney
Louisdale, Friday, April 13, 2012
Jacklyn.SamsonMarie.Brunelle.and.Michel.de.NoncourtJoel.LefortVictor.David,.Deputy.Warden,.the.Municipality.of.the.County.of.RichmondFrank.ComeauGabrielle.SamsonSteve.Samson,.Councillor,.the.Municipality.of.the.County.of.RichmondMichel.Samson,.MLA,.Richmond
72 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Sydney, Saturday, April 14, 2012
John.ShawEarle.O..TubrettHeather.Paterson,.Treasurer,.Cape.Breton.South.New.Democratic.Party.Association.and.John.Evans,.
President,.Cape.Breton.Nova.New.Democratic.Party.AssociationRon.MacDonald,.President,.Cape.Breton.North.Progressive.Conservative.AssociationHugh.Kennedy,.President,.Cape.Breton.West.Progressive.Conservative.Association
Baddeck, Saturday, April 14, 2012
Stephen.MacAskill,.President,.Victoria-The.Lakes.Liberal.AssociationSandy.Hudson,.Chief.Administrative.Officer,.Municipality.of.the.County.of.VictoriaBob.GreerJim.MorrowJoan.O’Liari,.Victoria-The.Lakes.New.Democratic.Party.AssociationKeith.Bain,.MLA,.Victoria-The.Lakes
Tusket, Thursday, April 19, 2012
Réal.Boudreau,.président,.Chambre.de.commerce.d’Argyle.Chamber.of.Commerce,.and.Peter.BoudreauClinton.Saulnier,.President,.Argyle.Progressive.Conservative.AssociationTherese.Boucher,.Société.historique.et.généalogique.d’ArgyleClyde.deViller.and.Norbert.LeBlanc,.président,.Conseil.acadien.de.Par-en-BasMaurice.leBlanc,.Président.du.Conseil.des.arts.de.Par-en-BasAllain.Muise,.Chief.Administrative.Officer.and.Warden.Aldric.d’Entremont,.Municipalité.d’ArgyleCoral.A..d’Entremont,.secrétaire.du.Réveil.de.PombcoupBernice.d’Entremont,.Responsable.du.Musée.des.Acadiens.des.PubnicosCécile.d’Entremont.Bourque,.Association.des.Acadiennes.de.la.région.d’ArgyleJean.d’Entremont,.présidente.du.comité.régional.d’Argyle.du.Regroupement.des.aînés.de.la.
Nouvelle-ÉcosseNoe.Bourque,.président.du.Comité.jeunesse.de.Par-en-BasJoshua.Shaw,.président.du.conseil.étudiant.de.École.secondaire.de.Par-en-BasGhislain.Boudreau,.président.de.la.Fédération.culturelle.acadienne.de.la.Nouvelle-ÉcosseChris.d’Entremont,.MLA,.ArgyleDésiré.Boudreau,.président.de.la.Chorale.acadienne.du.sud-ouestNatalie.Ibbott-Smith,.présidente.Argyle.Farmers’.MarketGhislaine.d’Eon,.directrice.générale.de.l’Équipe.alphabétisation.Nouvelle-ÉcosseLisa.Landry-Shaw,.directrice.du.Jardin.des.petitsCalvin.d’Entremont,.Village.historique.acadien.de.la.Nouvelle-ÉcosseDonald.W..Jacquard,.Association.du.Musée.de.WedgeportLouis.d’Entremont,.Association.du.parti.libéral.d’Argyle
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 73
Briar.Spinney.and.Nicole.Thimot,.jeunes.de.École.secondaire.de.ClareLeland.Anthony,.Warden,.Municipality.of.YarmouthByron.Boudreau,.Deputy.Mayor,.Town.of.Yarmouth
Church Point, Friday, April 20, 2012
Jean.Melanson,.Warden,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.ClarePaul.Comeau,.President,.and.Kristanne.Chandler,.Clare.Civic.AssociationRonald.Robichaud,.Président.and.Jean.Léger,.Directeur.général,.Fédération.acadienne.de.la.
Nouvelle-Écosse.(FANE)Wayne.Gaudet,.MLA,.ClareKenneth.Deveau,.Université.Sainte-Anne,.on.behalf.of.President.and.Vice-Chancellor.Allister.SuretteDiane.Besner,.présidente,.and.Elaine.Thimot,.directrice.générale,.La.Société.acadienne.de.ClareLori-Lynn.Comeau,.Conseil.Jeunesse.provincial.(CJP).and.Jonah.Guillmond,.student.from.École.
secondaire.de.Clare.(ESDC)Charles.MacDougall,.Sara.Sabry.and.Néomie.Losier,.students.from.École.Rose.des.Vents–GreenwoodGhislaine.LeBlanc,.présidente,.Festival.acadien.de.ClareGuy.J..Le.BlancGhislaine.LeBlanc.and.Janice.LeBlancJoline.LeBlanc.and.Clyde.Deveau,.Foyer.“Maison.Jerôme”Daniel.RobichaudAnne.LeBlancAngeline.ThimotMarc.Boudreau,.Clare.Progressive.Conservative.AssociationSuzanne.Saulnier,.directrice,.and.Patricia.Theriault.(board.member),.Centre.provincial.de.ressources.
préscolaires.(CPRPS)Marcel.CottreauJames.Crombie,.PhD,.professor.at.Université.Sainte-AnneColette.Deveau.King
Bridgewater, Saturday, April 21, 2012
Karen.ReinhardtEdward.(Ted).BulleyGary.Ramey,.MLA,.Lunenburg.WestPam.Birdsall,.MLA,.LunenburgWilliam.CoxKeith.SullivanDavid.YoungCarolyn.Bolivar-Getson
74 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Appendix E: Presenters (second round, in order of presentation)
Port Hawkesbury, Tuesday, August 7, 2012
John.PettipasJoel.LefortDanny.GrahamNeil.Decoff,.President,.Guysborough-Sheet.Harbour.Progressive.Conservative.Association,.Herman.Long,.
Vice-President,.Guysborough-Sheet.Harbour.Progressive.Conservative.Association.and.Ron.ChisholmRichard.CottonGabrielle.SamsonDavid.Clark,.Warden,.St..Mary’s.MunicipalityVictor.David,.Deputy.Warden,.Richmond.CountyBert.LewisMichel.Samson,.MLA,.RichmondAllan.MacMaster,.MLA,.Inverness
Westville, Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Wayne.Pierce,.President,.Pictou.West.Constituency.Association,.New.Democratic.PartyClarrie.MacKinnon,.MLA,.Pictou.EastJim.Boudreau,.MLA,.Guysborough-Sheet.HarbourTyler.CameronHis.Worship.Mayor.Roger.MacKay,.Town.of.WestvilleThe.Honourable.Charlie.Parker,.Minister.of.Natural.Resources,.Minister.of.Energy,.MLA,.Pictou.WestGordon.Anderson.and.Raymond.KirkChester.DewarDeborah.StilesRonald.Baillie,.Warden,.Municipality.of.Pictou.CountyRick.YoungDarren.ThompsonLawrence.DunnGlenn.MacLeodDavid.ParkerMilton.FraserMary.K..MacKinnonLuke.YoungAndy.Thompson,.Councillor,.Municipality.of.Pictou.CountyGerald.RomsaRose.MacKenzieCharlie.Sullivan
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 75
Sydney, Thursday, August 9, 2012
Tim.Menk,.Barry.Sheehy.and.Gene.Kersey,.Friends.of.Gabarus.SocietySandra.DunnOwen.FitzgeraldThe.Honourable.Gordie.Gosse,.MLA,.Cape.Breton.NovaJim.MacLeodJohn.DanchKathleen.BurkeElizabeth.BeatonDonelda.MacDonald
Halifax, Monday, August, 13, 2012
Rob.BathersonBernard.K..ConradThe.Honourable.Percy.Paris,.Minister.for.Economic.and.Rural.Development.and.Tourism,.MLA,.
Waverley-Fall.River-Beaver.BankThe.Honourable.Maurice.G..Smith,.Minister.of.Transportation.and.Infrastructure.Renewal,.MLA,.
AntigonishGeoff.Le.BoutillierJim.CarwardineGwen.ChristieRené.E..Lavoie,.PhD,.St..Margaret’s.Bay.Stewardship.AssociationBill.SwanPeter.Lund,.Councillor,.Halifax.Regional.MunicipalityMichael.PoworoznykThe.Honourable.David.Wilson,.Minister.of.Health.and.Wellness,.MLA,.Sackville-CobequidCathy.Crouse,.St..Margaret’s.Bay.Stewardship.AssociationCathy.Gamache,.Aspotogan.Heritage.TrustRick.GrantMary.Ann.McGrath,.Chair,.Kearney.Lake.Residents.AssociationMat.Whynott,.MLA,.Hammonds.Plains-Upper.SackvilleThe.Honourable.Denise.Petersen-Rafuse,.Minister.of.Community.Services,.MLA,.Chester-St..Margaret’sShelley.WebbDiana.Whalen,.MLA,.Halifax.Clayton.ParkMichèle.Raymond,.MLA,.Halifax.AtlanticEd.GilesAlan.Ruffman
76 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Yarmouth, Monday, August 13, 2012
Marie-Germaine.ChartranZach.Churchill,.MLA,.YarmouthJohn.SollowsHis.Worship.Mayor.Phil.Mooney,.Town.of.YarmouthKen.Crosby,.Councillor,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.YarmouthJohn.Cunningham,.Councillor,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.YarmouthDick.StewartMike.Mercier,.Yarmouth.Chamber.of.CommerceJohn.Nause,.PhD,.President,.Yarmouth.Liberal.Association,.and.Michael.DrewRichard.Brezet,.Yarmouth.Historical.SocietyShirley.ShermanSteve.PaquetteThe.Honourable.Chris.d’Entremont,.MLA,.Argyle,.and.Clinton.Saulnier,.President,.Argyle.Progressive.
Conservative.AssociationRéal.Boudreau,.Yarmouth.Chamber.of.CommerceLeland.Anthony,.Warden,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.YarmouthBrittany-Jean.BlakeKen.Langille.for.Aaron.LeBlancLeigh.HawkesBrian.Boudreau,.Board.of.Directors,.Yarmouth.Progressive.Conservative.AssociationJohn.Morris,.Yarmouth.New.Democratic.Party.AssociationAldric.d’Entremont,.Warden,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.ArgyleNeil.MacKenzie,.Councillor,.Town.of.YarmouthClyde.deViller.and.Norbert.LeBlanc,.Président,.Conseil.acadien.de.Par-en-BasStephen.SollowsDeborah.Robinson,.Chief,.Acadia.First.NationMaurice.LeBlancMurray.JudgeEric.J..RuffDavid.SollowsMarianna.PezarisLouis.d’EntremontKelly.Bellamon
Church Point/Pointe-de-l’Église, Tuesday, August 14
Jean.LeBlanc,.Chez.Jean.RestaurantCharles.Gaudet,.directeur.général,.and.Ronald.Robichaud,.président,.Fédération.acadienne.de.la.
Nouvelle-Écosse
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 77
Claire.Comeau.BoulianneJean.Melanson,.Warden,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Clare/Préfet,.Municipalité.du.district.de.ClareColette.Deveau.King
Bridgewater, Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Mark.FureyDavid.MitchellHis.Worship.Mayor.Don.Downe,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.LunenburgLee.Nauss,.Councillor,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.LunenburgEric.Hustvedt,.Councillor,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.LunenburgPam.Birdsall,.MLA,.LunenburgGary.Ramey,.MLA,.Lunenburg.WestVicki.Conrad,.MLA,.QueensKaren.ReinhardtCarolyn.Bolivar-GetsonSheldon.BrannenBill.CoxEvelyn.Snyder
Dartmouth, Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Lucien.ComeauDavid.Hendsbee,.Councillor,.Halifax.Regional.Municipality.(HRM)Lois.MillerDaniel.BoutinDavid.NantesThe.Honourable.Darrell.Dexter,.Premier,.Province.of.Nova.Scotia,.MLA,.Cole.HarbourTracey.PreeperKevin.LaceyPete.SmithEd.KinleyMaureen.VineWilliam.MolandAgnes.ElmsMichael.CormierZachery.ComeauAndrew.Younger,.MLA,.Dartmouth.EastAllan.BillardJoanne.JardineBev.Doman
78 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Margie.VaughanRobert.Hammer
Annapolis Royal, Thursday, August 16, 2012
The.Honourable.Stephen.R..McNeil,.Leader.of.the.Official.Opposition,.MLA,.AnnapolisRay.MackieJane.NicholsonHelen.OpieGregory.Heming,.PhDBurton.LeathersWayne.BoucherAndreas.KilianJerri.CostaPaul.J..MacDonaldPeter.ZavitzWayne.MacDonaldHarold.Theriault,.MLA,.Digby-Annapolis
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 79
Appendix F: Written Submissions Received January 11–May 31, 2012 (in alphabetical order)
Alexander,.Barry,.PEng,.CQMCAnthony,.Leland,.Warden,.Municipality.of.YarmouthBain,.Keith,.MLA,.Victoria-The.LakesBelliveau,.Jeannine,.Regroupement.des.ainées.et.
ainés.de.la.Nouvelle-ÉcosseBengivenni,.TrudyBesner,.Diane,.présidente,.and.Elaine.Thimot,.
directrice.générale,.La.Société.acadienne.de.Clare
Boudreau,.Byron,.Deputy.Mayor,.Town.of.YarmouthBoudreau,.Ghislain,.présidente.de.la.
Fédération.culturelle.acadienne.de.la.Nouvelle-Écosse.(FéCANE)
Boudreau,.Marc,.Clare.Progressive.Conservative.Association
Boudreau,.Real,.président,.Chambre.de.commerce.d’Argyle
Boudreau,.TimBuchanan,.Carol,.President,.Bedford-Birch.Cove.
New.Democratic.Party.Riding.AssociationBulley,.Edward.(Ted),.Provincial.Returning.
Officer,.District.of.QueensBumstead,.JustinCaines,.SteveCameron,.Caroline,.Coordinator,.Comhairle..
na.GàidhligCard,.EdgarChaisson,.Jules,.Executive.Director,.le.Conseil.
communautaire.du.Grand-HavreChristie,.JoanChristie,.PeterClack,.LyssaComeau,.ClaireComeau,.Lorie-Lynn.(Conseil.Jeunesse.provincial—
CJP).and.Jonah.Guimond,.students.from.Ecole.secondaire.de.Clare.(ESDC)
Comeau,.LucienComeau,.Paul,.President,.and.Kristanne.Chandler,.
Director,.Clare.Civic.AssociationComeau,.Paul-Emile,.président,.la.Fédération.
régionale.des.arts.et.du.patrimoineComeau,.PhyllisComeau,.WayneComeau,.Yvon,.l’Association.le.Moulin.de.la.Baie.
Sainte-MarieCook,.Christopher,.A.,.President,.
Guysborough-Sheet.Harbour.New.Democratic.Party.Association
Cormier,.MichaelCottreau,.MarcelCrombie,.James,.PhD,.Professor.at.Université.
Sainte-AnneCunningham,.Trevord’Entremont,.Albenie,.Father,.Stella-Maris.
Parish,.Meteghand’Entremont,.Aldric,.Warden,.and.Alain.D..Muise,.
CA,.Chief.Administrative.Officer,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Argyle
d’Entremont,.Bernice,.Head,.Musée.des.acadiens.des.Pubnicos
d’Entremont,.Coral.A.,.secrétaire.du.Réveil..de.Pombcoup
D’Entremont,.Jean,.présidente,.du.comité.régional.d’Argyle.du.Regroupement.des.aînés.de.la.Nouvelle-Écosse
d’Entremont.Bourque,.Cécile,.l’Association.des.Acadiennes.de.la.region.d’Argyle
David,.Victor,.Deputy.Warden,.Municipality.of.the.County.of.Richmond
De.Noncourt,.Michel,.Marie.Brunelle,.Clyde.de.Viller,.and.Norbert.LeBlanc,.président,.le.Conseil.acadien.de.Par-en-Bas
80 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Després,.Noël,.Gérant.général,.Comeau’s.Sea.Foods.Limited
Deveau,.Kenneth,.PhD,.Vice.President,.Academic.and.Research,.Université.Sainte-Anne
Deveau.King,.ColetteDoucet-Boudreau,.Glenda,.présidente,.
L’Association.Madelaine.LeBlancDowne,.Don,.Mayor,.Municipality.of.the.District.
of.LunenburgEmbree,.Margaret.H.Epstein,.Howard,.MLA,.Halifax.ChebuctoEvans,.JohnFinlayson,.DavidFinlayson,.David,.Bedford-Birch.Cove.Progressive.
Conservative.AssociationGarnier,.MaryGaudet,.M..Kenneth,.président.du.Conseil.scolaire.
acadien.provincial,.and.Guy.J..LeBlancGaudet,.Wayne,.MLA,.ClareGerrits,.GerryGreer,.BobHammond,.GordonHarpelle,.RobertHudson,.A.W..(Sandy)Hudson,.Sandy,.Chief.Administrative.Officer,.
Municipality.of.the.County.of.VictoriaIbbott-Smith,.NatalieIsnor,.LynneJacquard,.Donald.W.,.l’Association.du.Musée.de.
la.pêche.sportive.au.thon.de.WedgeportJarvis,.Joseph.G.Jones,.Arnold.and.JanetKelly,.DuncanKennedy,.HughKennedy,.MichaelKent,.Becky,.MLA,.Cole.Harbour-Eastern.PassageLandry-Shaw,.Lisa,.directrice,.Le.Jardin.des.PetitsLeBlanc,.AlainLeBlanc,.Anne
LeBlanc,.CyrilleLeBlanc,.Ghislaine,.présidente,.Festival.acadien.
de.ClareLeBlanc,.Guy.J.,.board.of.directors,.Festival.
acadien.de.ClareLeBlanc,.Maurice,.président.du.Conseil.des.arts.
de.Par-en-BasLeBlanc,.Paul.Emile,.président,.La.Chambre.de.
commerce.de.ClareLeBlanc,.RaymondLeFort,.JoelLoney,.Elaine.A.Lugar,.DonnaMacArthur,.Rod,.QCMacAskill,.StephenMacAskill,.Stephen,.President,.Victoria-The.Lakes.
Liberal.AssociationMacDonald,.Ron,.Cape.Breton.North.Progressive.
Conservative.AssociationMacMaster,.Allan,.MLA,.InvernessMacVicar,.AnnMaillet,.Lucille,.Administratice,.Villa.AcadienneMartin,.Jean-Jacques.and.LouiseMcGrath,.Mary.AnnMelanson,.Jean,.Warden,.Municipality.of.the.
District.of.ClareMiller,.GaryNorman,.CarolO’Boyle,.SusanO’Liari,.JoanOrrell,.EddieParis,.The.Honourable.Percy,.Minister.of.Economic.
and.Rural.Development.and.Tourism,.MLA.for.Waverley-Fall.River-Beaver.Bank
Patterson,.Heather,.Treasurer,.Cape.Breton.South.New.Democratic.Party.Constituency.Association,.and.John.Evans,.President,.Cape.Breton.Nova.New.Democratic.Party.Constituency.Association
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 81
Pierce,.Wayne,.President.of.Riding.Association,.Pictou.West,.New.Democratic.Party
Ramey,.Gary,.MLA,.Lunenburg.WestRaymond,.Doug,.Secretary,.Kings.North.
Progressive.Conservative.AssociationRegan,.Kelly,.MLA,.Bedford-Birch.CoveReinhardt,.KarenRenard,.Claude,.président,.le.Conseil.
communautaire.du.Grand-HavreRobichaud,.Ronald,.président,.and.Jean.Léger,.
directeur.général,.Fédération.acadienne.de.la.Nouvelle-Écosse
Robinson,.D..KentRodgers,.DanielSamson,.GabrielleSamson,.Jacqueline,.directrice.générale,.La.
Picasse,.centre.communautaire.culturelSaulnier,.Suzanna,.directrice,.and.Patricia.
Theriault,.board.member,.Centre.provincial.de.ressources.préscolaires.(CPRPS)
Savoury,.MichelineShaw,.JohnShaw,.Joshua,.président.du.Conseil.étudiant.de.
École.secondaire.de.Par-en-BasSheehan,.PeterSmith,.MauriceThériault,.GérardThimot,.AngelineThimot,.NicoleTitus,.Everett,.Marine.Superintendent,.A.F..
Theriault.and.Son.LimitedTrider,.MichaelTubrett,.Earle.O.Veevers,.GregoryWall,.Brenda,.RCTWeagle,.AnthonyWilkie,.GregoryWilliams,.DougWilliamson,.Marthanne
Wood,.RichardYoung,.David.I.
82 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Appendix G: Written Submissions Received June 1–July 13, 2012 (in alphabetical order)
Aitken,.JimBannerman,.BlairBannerman,.Mark.and.SelenaBenson,.Ann.M.,.President,.Beaver.Bank.
Kinsac.SeniorsBenson,.AnthonyBlack,.AndrewBrown,.D..ScottBrown,.JanetByrne,.TimCasey,.Karen,.MLA,.Colchester.NorthChurchill,.Zack,.MLA,.YarmouthClack,.LyssaConrad,.Bernard.K.Conrad,.MerrillCosman,.The.Honourable.FranceneDawson,.LorraineDoucet,.LesterDubinsky,.Dr..LeslieDunlop,.W..DaleFawson,.PatFerguson,.JasonFiander,.ErinFurey,.MarkGeddes,.J..DianneGray,.Justin.and.SherryHarris,.DavidHerron,.Bruce,.President,.Pictou.County.Chamber.
of.CommerceHirtle,.PatrickHolmes,.Louis.M.Hunt,.Jeffrey.R.,.Executive.Vice.President,.
Progressive.Conservative.Party.of.Nova.ScotiaIpe,.Christopher,.and.Tanya.NicholsonLanigan,.JohnLoney,.Elaine
Loney,.RobertLugar,.BrianLugar,.DonnaMacDonald,.StephenMacHardy,.JoanneMacKay,.BobMacKinnon,.Clarrie,.MLA,.Pictou.EastMacLellan,.MarleneMcCluskey,.PatrickMcQuaid,.JaniceMelanson,.Jean,.préfet,.Municipalité.du.district.
de.ClareMeldrum,.DaveMiller,.GaryMisner,.Jeanne.and.BrianMorton,.Jim,.MLA,.Kings.NorthMuise,.EvelynParker,.JimPerry,.DonnaRegan,.Kelly,.MLA,.Bedford-Birch.CoveReinhardt,.KarenRobichaud,.J..Ronald,.président,.Fédération.
acadienne.de.la.Nouvelle.ÉcosseRobinson,.CaroleRyan,.PatSamson,.RosemarieShaw,.JohnShindruk,.ArdithSkinner,.DougSmith,.BillSmith,.JaniceSmith,.NancyStewart,.Mary.ElizabethTaggart,.TomThériault,.Gérard,.Executive.Secretary,.Clare.
Civic.Association
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 83
Tillman,.SandyVeevers,.GregoryWalker,.GrantWhalen,.MichaelWhite,.BillWhite,.MeredithWhitehead,.MikeWilson,.Cheri
84 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Appendix H: Written Submissions Received July 14–September 4, 2012 (in alphabetical order)
Aalto,.SergeiAckerman,.JerryAlbright,.CamAlexander,.Barry,.PEng,.CQMCAllaire,.SylvainAllan,.Wilfred.H.Allen,.Don.and.JeannieAmero,.AnganetAmero,.AngelaAmon,.JennahAtwell,.Wanda.L.Bailey,.Linda,.RNBaker,.Dr..Christopher.and.StephanieBaroni,.NancyBarteaux,.AshleyBatherson,.RobertBeals,.LauraBeattie,.DeloresBenson,.Anthony.V.Bickford,.JimBillard,.AllanBishara,.Joanne.E.Blake,.Brittany-JeanBoivin-Cole,.Dr..CarmelitaBonnar,.Veralyn.Anne.RogersBouchard,.AndréBoucher,.Wayne,.The.Milford.and.Area.Community.
Hall.Association.and.Chairman.of.the.Friends.of.the.Annapolis.Community.Health.Centre
Boudreau,.Brian.and.JimBoudreau,.Brian.and.SandraBoudreau,.Jim,.MLA,.Guysborough-Sheet.HarbourBoudreau,.MarylnBoudreau,.Réal,.Yarmouth.Chamber.of.CommerceBoutilier,.RogerBoyd,.Fred
Bridson,.CherylBrown,.Hugh.and.LeonaBrown,.LaurieBuchanan,.Al,.and.Nancy.SullivanBuckler,.MatthewBuckmaster,.JoanneBullerwell,.Earl.and.JaniceBurke,.Patrick.A.,.QC,.Executive.Member,.
Lunenburg.Liberal.AssociationButland,.FreemanButt,.GeorgeCaines,.JulieCaldwell,.SherryCalvi,.Morgan.F.Cameron,.KimberlyCard,.EdgarCasey,.Karen,.MLA,.Colchester.NorthCarson,.WardCawthra,.Michael.and.KarenChapman,.JosieChisholm.McQuaid,.JaniceChristie,.PeterChurchill,.JoyceChurchill,.Karen,.President,.Yarmouth.and.Area.
Chamber.of.CommerceChurchill,.Zach,.MLA,.YarmouthClarke,.SusanCoady,.EileenCoady,.PaulColaiacovo,.KathyComeau,.AndreComeau,.ClaireComeau,.JeannineComeau,.WarnerConnell,.BrianConrad,.Bernard.K.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 85
Conyers,.DonnaCook,.ShirleyCooke,.KevinCormier,.MichaelCosta,.JerriCranton,.SharonCress,.PatriciaCrossman,.AnneCrouse,.Cathy,.Vice-Chair,.St..Margaret’s.Bay.
Stewardship.AssociationCunningham,.John,.Councillor,.Municipality.of.the.
District.of.YarmouthCunningham,.TrevorCurry,.GerryCurry,.IanCurry,.MikeCurry,.William.E..(Bill)deViller,.Clyded’Entremont,.Aldric,.Warden,.Municipality.of.the.
District.of.Argyle.d’Entremont,.The.Honourable.Chris,.MLA,.Argyle,.
and.Clinton.Saulnier,.President,.Argyle.Progressive.Conservative.Association
d’Entremont,.JeanDanch,.JohnDares,.GilDavid,.JimDavies,.Peter.and.ValerieDavis,.DickDay,.CecilDay,.William.H.E.D’Entremont,.PaulDease,.Jack.and.Donna-LeeDecoff,.Neil,.President,.Guysborough-Sheet.
Harbour.Progressive.Conservative.Association,.Herman.Long,.Vice-President,.Guysborough-Sheet.Harbour.Progressive.Conservative.Association.and.Ron.Chisholm
deMolitor,.Ruth.and.Ken
DeViller,.SharonDewar,.Kenneth.C.DeWolfe,.JaneDodaro,.PaulaDoman,.BevDonaldson,.RandyDoucette,.DavidDowne,.His.Worship.Don,.Mayor,.Municipality.of.
the.District.of.LunenburgDuffy,.Bryan.D.,.FCADunn,.LawrenceDunn,.SandraDystant,.DonnaEarle,.DanEaton,.SusanEdwards,.LaurieEllis,.Darlene.F.English,.DaveEpstein,.Howard,.MLA,.Halifax.ChebuctoFakhri,.JosephFearon,.MikeField,.ReneeFitzgerald,.KevinFrancruz,.JoanFecteau,.JanetteFoley,.PeggyForrestall,.MonicaFoster,.DouglasFougere,.KathyFox,.JeanneFraser,.MiltonFurey,.MarkFyfe,.PeterGaudet,.Charles,.directeur.général.and.Ronald.
Robichaud,.président,.Fédération.acadienne.de.la.Nouvelle-Écosse
Geddes,.J..DianneGennette,.BrandiGillis,.Gordon.D.
86 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Gobien,.KevinGregory-Hudson,.LunettaGrove,.Jo-AnneHall,.FloraHalley,.AnnaHannam,.GregHanson,.Carol.and.JohnHanson,.KarenHardy,.AndrewHarper,.Ron.and.JudyHarvey,.AnthonyHaslam,.BillHawkins,.Derek.and.SueHay,.Gene.and.SusanHayward-Byrd,.LynetteHebditch,.Suzan.A.Hefler,.Marge,.Timber.Trails.Land-.
Leased.CommunityHelmke,.Ellen,.President,.St..Margaret’s.Bay.
Chamber.of.CommerceHeming,.Gregory,.PhDHill,.WandaHines,.Lloyd.P.Hodgins,.Brad,.BA,.MA,.MPAHodgson,.Jo.and.RayHolt,.Dr..Richard.THoward,.Dessie.and.BobHuby,.BobHurlbert,.ErnieHudson,.Karen.L.Hyman,.Michael,.M.D.Hyson,.WayneIbraheem,.Al.WaedhIgot,.PierreIngalls,.Wayne.and.SharonIrving-Kennedy,.SharonIsles,.KenIsnor,.OwenJardine,.Joanne
Jarvis,.Joseph.G.Jenereaux,.Harriet.E.Jenereaux,.Keith.W.Jessop,.B.Johnson,.RachelJohnston,.CorrineJudge,.MurrayKearnes,.NicoleKhan,.LornaKilian,.AndreasKinley,.EdKugel,.HerbKutschera,.EllaLacey,.Kevin,.Atlantic.Director,.Canadian.
Taxpayers.FederationLamey,.JoanneLavoie,.René.E.,.PhDLawrence,.E.Layes,.Mary.K.LeBlanc,.AaronLeBlanc,.Jean,.Chez.Jean.RestaurantLeBlanc,.MauriceLeBlanc,.NorbertLeBoutilier,.GeoffLeathers,.Burton,.PhDLeon,.John,.St..Margaret’s.Bay..
Stewardship.AssociationLewis,.S.M.Little,.MatthewLipton,.JohnLombard,.SueLoney,.ElaineLoney,.RobertLorefice,.LouiseLosier,.SoniaMacDonald,.AdeleMacDonald,.Gerald.A.,.QCMacDonald,.JanetMacDonald,.Joe
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 87
MacDonald,.MarionMacDonald,.Paul.J.MacDonald,.Peter.M.MacDonald,.Ronald.AMacDonald,.Wayne,.Chair,.Annapolis.West.
Health.FoundationMacDonald,.WendyMacDonald,.WillardMacDonell,.The.Honourable.John,.Minister.of.
Agriculture.and.Minister.of.Service.Nova.Scotia.and.Municipal.Relations,.MLA,.Hants.East
MacInnis,.Professor.MalcolmMacKenzie,.Neil,.Councillor,.Town.of.YarmouthMacKenzie,.RoseMackie,.RayMacKinnon,.Clarrie,.MLA,.Pictou.EastMacKinnon,.Mary.K.Maclaughlin,.GaryMacLean,.BillMacLennan,.John.and.JanetMacMillan,.MaryMacNeil,.Michael,.The.East.Bay.and.Area.
Community.CouncilMaher,.KenMaher,.Judy,.RNMallet,.AndréMansour,.PeterMarshall,.KevinMaybee,.JanetMcCaul,.Margaret.and.PaulMcCaul,.PamMcCluskey,.PatrickMcCormick,.Ashley,.MD,.CCFPMcDonald,.Patrick.G.McGill,.SharelleMcGinis,.Jim.and.JeanMcGowan,.LaurieMcGrath,.Mary.Ann,.Chair,.Kearney.Lake.
Residents.Association
McInnis,.Thomas.J.,.President,.Sheet.Harbour.and.Area.Chamber.of.Commerce.and.Civic.Affairs
McLagan,.LornaMcNeil,.ColleenMcNeil,.The.Honourable.Stephen.R.,.Leader.of.
the.Opposition,.MLA,.AnnapolisMelanson,.DurlineMelanson,.Jean,.Warden,.Municipality.of.the.District.
of.Clare./.Préfet,.Municipalité.du.district.de.ClareMelanson,.PaulaMenk,.Tim,.Barry.Sheehy,.and.Gene.Kersey,.
Friends.of.Gabarus.SocietyMennie,.Gerald.E.Mercier,.MikeMersereau,.ByronMildon,.John,.and.Melissa.KeddieMillett-Campbell,.SandiMills,.William,.Executive.Director,.and.Graziella.
Grbac,.Incoming.Executive.Director,.Main.Street.Dartmouth.and.Area.Business.Improvement.Association
Mitchell,.DavidMoir,.SheilaMoore,.John,.Maskwa.Aquatic.ClubMorash,.DougMorris,.John,.Yarmouth.New.Democratic..
Party.AssociationMorton,.AshleyMorton,.Jim,.MLA,.Kings.NorthMosley,.JenniferMueller-Sparenberg,.HolgerMuise,.DanielMuise,.MalcolmMullett,.ByronMunro-Cape,.Christopher.J.Murphy.Boudreau,.SandraMurray,.Brian.and.DebbieNause,.John,.PhD,.President,.Yarmouth.Liberal.
Association,.and.Michael.Drew
88 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Nauss,.Lee.,.Councillor,.Municipality.of.the.District.of.Lunenburg
Nicholson,.GordNicholson,.JaneNickerson,.MichaelO’Donnell,.RoyO’Grady,.SallyOlie,.David,.President,.Yarmouth.New.Democratic.
Party.AssociationOliver,.ReganO’Neil,.David,.President,.Cole.Harbour.New.
Democratic.Party.AssociationO’Neil,.JackO’Neil,.VickiOpie,.HelenOrkin,.David,.and.Vanessa.WilkesPaquette,.JoanPaquette,.SteveParis,.DebbieParkes,.ErnieParker,.The.Honourable.Charlie,.Minister.of.
Natural.Resources.and.Minister.of.Energy,.MLA,.Pictou.West
Parker,.Grand.Chief.Mary.Lou,.Eastern.Woodland.Metis.Nation,.Nova.Scotia
Parker,.MauriceParker,.TimPateman,.ChrisPeach,.John.and.RosannePelham,.Pat.and.ElizabethPercy,.JonPerry,.Frieda.M.Perry,.JoshPetersen-Rafuse,.The.Honourable.Denise,.
Minister.of.Community.Services,.MLA,.Chester-St..Margaret’s
Pettipas,.JohnPierce,.Wayne,.President,.Pictou.West.New.
Democratic.Party.Association
Preeper,.TraceyPunnett,.ElizabethRaffel,.HenryRafuse,.BarbaraRafuse,.BronsonRamey,.Gary,.MLA,.Lunenburg.WestRamey,.LeotaRedgrave,.PatrickReed,.KatherineRegan,.Kelly,.MLA,.Bedford-Birch.CoveReynolds,.ArthurRhodenizer,.Robert.C.Rhymer,.ElizabethRichells,.HeideRierden,.AndiRitchie,.FranRoberts,.LawrenceRoberts,.His.Worship.Phil,.Mayor,.Town.of.AnnapolisRoberts,.RyanRobinson,.Deborah,.Chief,.Acadia.First.NationRobinson,.LeslieRockwell,.M.L.Rogers,.Doreen.and.BillRodgers,.DorothyRogers,.BruceRogers,.TwilaRomsa,.GeraldRose,.LindaRoy,.CrystalRoy,.JennaRoy,.SuzanneRussell,.PaulRyan,.BonnieRyan,.PatSaad,.EmileSaulnier,.AshleySaulnier,.ConnieSchneeweiss,.VictorSegulin,.Tim
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 89
Setlakwe,.JennaSchwartz,.AlissaShaw,.JohnShepard,.JacquiSherman,.ShirleyShortt,.CatherineSkabar,.Brian,.MLA,.Cumberland.NorthSlinn,.GrantSloan,.ChristineSmith,.DavidSmith,.Fielding.P.,.Deputy.Warden,.Municipality.of.
Pictou.CountySmith,.Gary.and.LindaSmith,.Neil.and.JeanSmith,.PeteSmithson,.Jim.and.LillianSnyder,.EvelynSollows,.DavidSollows,.JohnStackhouse,.ValerieStanton,.Eldon.and.DorisSteele,.Lise.W.Stewart,.Arthur.and.HeatherStewart,.HarveyStopford,.SusanSullivan,.JuanitaSurette,.JaniceSutton,.Linda.D.Swan,.BillSwift,.JudithSynishin,.PeterTaggart,.DavidTate,.Brenda.LevyTaylor,.His.Worship.Bob,.Mayor,.Municipality.of.
the.County.of.ColchesterTaylor,.DeanThompson,.KatherineTibbo,.WadeTileston,.Susan
Trimper,.Alan.R.Turcotte,.TracyTweedie,.GraemeUchacz,.StevenUhlman,.BrandonUrbaniak,.Tom,.PhDvan.Kampen,.Herbert.and.Eva.KozlowskiVanasse,.PierreVallillee,.KevinVaughan,.MatthewVeevers,.GregoryVerhoeckx,.IvyVine,.MaureenWagner,.DaleWallace,.PerryWambolt,.SusanneWard,.CarolWarner,.GillianWebster,.The.Rev..Charles.M.,.BA,.MDivWentzell,.LindaWesenhagen,.JaninaWestoll,.GaryWhalen,.Diana,.MLA,.Halifax.Clayton.ParkWhelan,.KayWhite,.ArtWhite,.DeniseWilkes,.VanessaWilson,.BobWilson,.The.Honourable.David,.Minister.of.Health.
and.Wellness,.MLA,.Sackville-CobequidWilson,.David.S.,.Chairman,.East.River.Valley.
Community.Development.AssociationWilson,.SaraWoodill,.Eliz.HollyWright,.NadineWright,.TedYounger,.Andrew,.MLA,.Dartmouth.EastZavitz,.PeterZisserson,.Marilynn.and.Warren
90 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Appendix I: Summary of Comments from the Public
Public.comments.and.advice,.in.the.form.of.written.and.verbal.submissions,.are.summarized.in.point.form.and.grouped.under.four.headings..Full.Hansard.transcripts.of.what.was.said.at.the.public.meetings.are.available.on.the.Commission’s.website.
Summary of Comments from the Public, to May 31, 2012 (before release of the Interim Report)
Number and size of electoral constituencies
•. Stay.within.the.existing.52.seats.(as.savings.from.minor.seat.reduction.would.be.small.and.the.level.of.representation.in.Nova.Scotia.is.not.abnormal.within.Canada)
•. Reduce.to.27.seats;.52.seats.or.a.slight.reduction.is.okay;.three.provincial.ridings.for.each.federal.riding.to.produce.33.seats;.45-seat.legislature.is.reasonable.to.provide.government,.cabinet.and.opposition
•. Reduce.to.42.seats.to.bring.costs.in.line.with.provincial.GDP;.if.Commission.does.not.agree,.hold.a.voter.plebiscite.on.the.topic
•. Use.the.redrawn.HRM.municipal.electoral.districts.and.average.number.of.electors.as.a.basis.for.redrawing.districts.across.the.province:.would.give.42.seats.in.the.legislature;.could.make.work.easier.for.elected.representatives.and.community.groups
•. Consider.reducing.the.number.of.seats.to.achieve.cost.savings
•. Apply.additional.support.staff.and.current.information.technologies
•. Communications.technologies.to.assist.rural.members.of.the.Legislative.Assembly.(MLAs).and.their.widely.dispersed.constituents
•. Work.with.county.and.municipal.boundaries.to.the.extent.possible
•. Recognize.that.urban.constituents.are.easier.to.represent.due.to.geographic/population.compactness.and.fewer.and.different.demands.on.MLAs
•. Respect.long-standing.municipal.and.county.boundaries
•. Respect.established.and.natural.communities.of.interest.as.determined.by.various.factors,.which.include.transportation.routes;.shopping.patterns;.infrastructure.and.facilities;.employment;.and.recreation,.etc..This.would.mean.adjusting.boundaries.where.community.of.interest.has.been.compromised.in.the.past.and.ensuring.that.new.or.expanded.districts.respect.long-standing.communities
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 91
Voter parity
•. Use.the.±25.per.cent.variance.as.an.absolute.maximum
•. Aim.for.a.±10.per.cent.variance;.aim.for.a.±10.to.15%.variance.as.maximum
•. One.person,.one.vote—no.special.status.or.protection.for.anyone
•. Representation.by.population.only.one.of.the.factors.to.consider
•. Use.the.±25.per.cent.variance.as.a.guideline.only,.weighing.it.against.factors.such.as.history,.geography,.culture,.communities.of.interest.and.language.and.against.the.goal.of.fair.and.effective.representation.for.all
•. Consider.a.population.benchmark.or.standard.lower.than.±25%.for.constituencies.in.rural.Nova.Scotia;.consider.different.standards.for.rural.and.urban.areas
•. Take.into.account.that.the.rural.voter.turnout.is.larger.than.urban
Boundary adjustments
•. Harmonize.provincial.poll.boundaries.with.federal.poll.boundaries
•. Use.rear.property.lines.rather.than.streets.as.boundaries.where.this.could.avoid.confusion
•. Maintain.the.status.quo.in.Pictou,.Antigonish,.and.Kings;.Cape.Breton.has.enough.voters.to.sustain.the.status.quo
•. Move.boundaries.in.Cape.Breton.so.as.to.meet.the.population.requirement.and.thereby.justify.and.maintain.the.current.number.of.seats
•. Maintain.the.current.number.of.seats.in.Cape.Breton.in.appreciation.that.a.reduction.would.add.to.the.economic.and.out-migration.problems.on.the.Island
•. Expand.Victoria-The.Lakes.to.include.more.rural.population.(from.Cape.Breton.North.or.West;.e.g.,.Mill.Creek-Point.Aconi.area)
•. Combine.the.Inverness.and.Victoria-The.Lakes.highlands;.move.Polls.1–20.from.Inverness.to.Victoria-The.Lakes;.polls.27–32.from.Victoria-The.Lakes.to.Cape.Breton.North
•. Maintain.the.status.quo.in.Victoria-The.Lakes.(rather.than.expand.it),.given.its.geography.and.unwieldy.size
•. Add.some.north-end.polls.in.Sydney.to.Cape.Breton.Nova.(Whitney.Pier)
92 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
•. Move.four.polls.from.Cape.Breton.Centre.into.the.Glace.Bay.constituency
•. Restore.the.coastal.area.of.Lunenburg.County.to.Lunenburg.West.out.of.respect.for.its.Bridgewater.orientation.and.long-standing.community.of.interest
•. Maintain.the.Queens.constituency.by.incorporating.more.of.central.Nova.Scotia.(Maitland.Bridge.area).as.well.as.Lunenburg.West.(north.of.current.coastal.section);.change.name.to.Queens–West.Lunenburg
•. Leave.New.Germany.in.Lunenburg.West
•. Add.population/voters.to.Cumberland.South.by.taking.in.Nappan,.Maccan,.Fenwick,.Chignecto,.Five.Islands.to.Glengarry
•. Cumberland.South.will.soon.slip.outside.permissible.range:.look.at.long-term.growth.projections
•. Address.the.under-population.of.Eastern.Shore.by.moving.the.southern.boundary.only
•. Address.the.under-population.of.Guysborough.by.taking.polls.from.Antigonish
•. Guysborough.travel.and.communication.oriented.to.Antigonish.and.Pictou.rather.than.Halifax;.make.Guysborough.County.a.constituency,.or.keep.status.quo,.but.if.that.is.not.possible.recognize.functional.issues.in.creating.new.area.by.going.into.Eastern.Shore
•. Separate.Clayton.Park.from.Timberlea
•. Consider.merging.Birch.Cove.area.into.a.new.or.expanded.constituency.such.as.Clayton.Park;.move.polls.1–14.and.46–48.out.of.Bedford
•. Treat.Rockingham,.Cresthaven,.Grosvenor.Park,.Kearney.Lake,.and.Wedgewood.neighbourhoods.in.HRM.as.a.community.of.interest
•. Could.keep.Bedford–Birch.Cove.intact.or.separate.Birch.Cove..Avoid.narrow.constituencies.going.out.from.Bedford.Basin
•. Fairview.has.no.community.of.interest.with.the.mainland;.Fairview.could.be.returned.to.its.historic.connection.to.Armdale
•. To.create.six.constituencies.in.Central.Halifax.(from.current.5),.consider.a.new.Halifax–Northwest.Arm.constituency.and.some.adjustments.to.other.affected.constituencies
•. Voter.dilution.currently.a.problem.in.Halifax.and.suburbs;.up.to.five.constituencies.may.need.to.shift.from.outside.HRM.mainland;.could.adjust.boundaries.between.Halifax.Chebucto.and.Halifax.Needham.from.Windsor.to.Robie.Street.(extended.to.North.Street)
•. Create.a.Bedford.constituency.based.on.original.town.boundaries,.new.municipal.electoral.districts,.and.in.conjunction.with.the.creation.of.new.HRM.constituencies.or.realignment.of.existing.ones.in.the.vicinity
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 93
•. Include.Colby.Village.in.Cole.Harbour–Eastern.Passage.consistent.with.municipal.boundaries
•. Take.Colby.Village.out.of.Cole.Harbour–Eastern.Passage.and.put.with.Dartmouth.East;.no.community.of.interest.with.Eastern.Passage
•. Extend.the.boundaries.of.Cole.Harbour–Eastern.Passage.into.Dartmouth.South.so.as.to.absorb.South.Woodside
•. Extend.Dartmouth.East.northward.to.take.in.streets.off.the.Waverley.Road.that.are.now.oriented.to.Dartmouth.(up.to.highway.overpass)
•. Move.the.Lakelands–Mount.Uniacke.communities.into.the.West.Hants.constituency
•. Move.the.Upper.Sackville.segment.of.Hammonds.Plains.into.the.greater.Sackville.constituency.so.as.to.provide.for.the.growth.in.Hammonds.Plains
•. Align.the.current.communities.of.Middle.and.Upper.Sackville,.Lucasville,.and.Mount.Uniacke;.include.“Lucasville”.in.the.constituency.name
•. Move.Beaver.Bank.into.the.Sackville.constituency
•. Recognize.as.a.general.principle.that.public.sector.service.“regions”.across.the.province.demonstrate.little.consistency.from.a.boundary.standpoint,.thus.creating.confusion.for.both.citizens.and.service.providers
Protected constituencies
•. Continue.protection.of.the.existing.four.protected.seats,.given.that.the.Acadian.or.African-Nova.Scotian.minorities.confront.dilution.of.voter.influence.and,.in.the.case.of.the.former,.ultimate.assimilation.into.the.mainstream.population
•. Acadian.MLAs.perform.a.dual.role,.representing.Acadian.interests.across.the.province
•. The.gains.made.by.Acadians.in.language.and.culture.have.been.possible.due.to.the.collective.strength.of.MLA.representation
•. Eliminating.or.merging.ridings.would.be.a.step.backwards;.merging.ridings.would.create.rivalries;.reducing.numbers.would.weaken.Acadian.political.power
•. Recognize.that.the.Charter.of.Rights.and.Freedoms.and.judicial.decisions.now.protect.minorities,.including.their.right.to.effective.representation.in.legislatures
•. Recognize.that.Charter.protection.reduces.the.need.and.justification.for.special.treatment.of.minorities.as.voters
94 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
•. Appeals.to.higher.courts.would.be.likely.if.protected.constituencies.were.to.be.eliminated
•. There.is.no.merit.to.the.claims.that.the.terms.of.reference.are.unconstitutional
•. Avoid.splitting.up.minority.communities.in.re-alignments.within.a.±25.per.cent.variance;.avoid.gerrymandering
•. Tighten.the.boundaries.around.the.Preston.area.community.to.further.ensure.that.an.African.Nova.Scotian.candidate.would.take.the.seat
•. Consider.innovations.such.as.“administrative.districts,”.and.“members.at.large”.who.could.represent.the.named.minorities.regardless.of.where.they.live;.the.Gaelic.community.has.sufficient.numbers.to.warrant.consideration
•. Consider.creating.a.dispersed.constituency.that.would.include.various.Acadian.communities.in.different.parts.of.the.province
•. Consider.proportional.representation.to.replace.the.currently.employed.first-past-the-post.electoral.system
•. Consider.low-cost.alternatives.to.expensive.MLA.ridings.to.address.needs.of.the.communities
•. Representation.only.by.or.for.a.particular.group.goes.against.democracy;.special.seats.go.against.common.sense;.no.groups.should.have.reserved.seats;.where.will.it.end;.should.be.one.person.one.vote;.could.lead.to.other.constituencies.based.on.people’s.backgrounds
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 95
Summary of Comments from the Public, June 1–July 13, 2012 (after release of the Interim Report)
Constituency of Kings North
•. Pleased.the.boundaries.have.been.left.intact
Constituency of Timberlea-Prospect
•. Move.the.community.of.Williamswood.from.the.constituency.of.Timberlea-Prospect.to.the.constituency.of.Halifax.Atlantic
Constituency of Yarmouth
•. Maintain.Yarmouth.as.a.constituency.of.and.to.itself
•. Do.not.divide.or.parcel.the.constituency.of.Yarmouth.into.two.segments
General comments
•. Peninsular.Halifax:.universities.and.hospitals.provide.a.natural.boundary.between.the.urban.core.and.the.single.family.dwellings.that.are.more.common.in.the.south.and.southwest.areas.of.the.peninsula;.both.the.current.boundaries.and.those.presented.in.the.Interim.Report.see.a.natural.community.of.family.neighbourhoods.broken.up;.a.more.natural.grouping.of.like-minded.communities.would.bring.together.citizens.in.single.family.dwellings..This.could.start.on.the.eastern.end.of.Inglis.Street,.head.north.on.Robie.Street,.west.of.Quinpool.Road,.north.at.Oxford.Street,.and.west.continuing.down.Chebucto.Road.to.the.Armdale.Rotary
•. Move.the.Kearney.Lake.area.to.the.proposed.new.riding.of.Halifax.Clayton.Park
•. Consider.the.following.name.changes:.Lunenburg.Centre.to.LaHave.River.Valley;.Lunenburg.East.to.Lunenburg;.and.Queens-Lunenburg.West.to.Queens-Kejimkujik
•. Delay.the.start.of.the.second.round.of.public.meetings
96 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Governance
•. The.Commission.performed.well.within.the.provisions.and.spirit.of.the.House.of.Assembly.Act;.the.Commission.should.adhere.to.its.Interim.Report
•. The.Commission.is.independent;.that.means.independent.of.government,.including.any.minister,.any.department,.or.any.official;.the.Commission.should.seek.its.own.legal.advice
•. The.Commission.should.have.followed.its.Terms.of.Reference
•. Adhere.to.the.Terms.of.Reference.or.resign
•. Should.there.be.any.meeting.involving.the.Minister.of.Justice.and.the.Commission.or.any.member.thereof,.the.Progressive.Conservative.Party.of.Nova.Scotia.takes.the.position.that.in.order.to.preserve.the.independence.of.the.process.it.must.be.made.public
Number of MLAs
•. Keep.at.52.to.ensure.fair.representation.across.the.province
•. There.are.too.many.MLAs.in.NS.given.its.size.and.population
Proposed change to the constituency of Bedford-Birch Cove
•. Area.east.of.the.102.should.remain.in.one.riding;.suggest.the.southern.boundary.be.placed.somewhere.near.the.Esquire.Motel.and.the.north.boundary.along.Duke.Street;.eastern.boundary.should.run.down.the.Bedford.bypass.from.the.102.to.the.top.of.Magazine.Hill
•. Ensure.all.of.the.Basinview.community.remains.in.the.Bedford-Birch.Cove.constituency
•. Area.north.of.the.102.(including.the.new.high.school.and.community).should.be.placed.in.the.constituency
•. Thank.you.for.including.the.community.of.Royal.Hemlocks.in.the.proposed.constituency.of.Bedford
•. Proposed.constituency.of.Bedford.simply.as.the.old.Town.of.Bedford
•. Place.Sandy.Lake.and.the.Bedford.West.area.in.the.proposed.constituency
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 97
Proposed change to the constituency of Colchester North
•. Revise.decision.to.alter.the.boundaries.of.the.constituency.of.Colchester.North.because.of.community.of.interest
•. Reconsider.recommendation.knowing.that.the.constituency.population.can.be.better.achieved.through.boundary.changes.between.Cumberland.North.and.Cumberland.South
•. Proposed.change.to.the.constituency.of.Pictou.East
•. Constituency.has.a.population.of.15,613.and.11,803.voters,.well.within.the.±25.per.cent.guidelines;.the.constituency.should.remain.untouched
•. Be.retained.as.a.riding.within.the.boundaries.of.Pictou.County
Proposed change to the constituency of Dartmouth East boundary
•. Supports.the.proposed.change
•. Supports.the.proposed.change.of.adjusting.the.constituency’s.boundary.from.Barry’s.Run.to.include.Waverley.Road.out.to.Spider.Lake
Proposed constituencies of Sackville and Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank
•. Entire.community.of.Beaver.Bank,.including.Kinsac,.be.included.with.Sackville.(Middle.and.Upper),.under.the.name.Sackville-Beaver.Bank
Protected constituencies
•. Keep.the.constituency.of.Clare.as.is
•. Maintain.an.Acadian.riding.of.Clare.and.Argyle;.or.look.to.bring.those.ridings.into.Queens.and.Digby.counties
•. Stay.the.course.with.the.status.quo
•. Continue.to.advocate.for.cultural,.linguistic,.and.racial.communities.by.keeping.special.status.for.those.affected.communities
•. Support.for.maintaining.the.“protected.constituencies”
•. Dismayed.at.the.retention.of.the.“protected.constituencies”
98 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Summary of Comments from the Public, July 14–September 6, 2012 (after release of the Revised Interim Report)
A new Dartmouth constituency
•. Named.Dartmouth-Portland.Valley.and.would.include.the.area.bounded.by.Highway.111,.by.Main.Street,.and.the.current.eastern.electoral.boundary.between.the.electoral.district.of.Dartmouth.South-Portland.Valley.and.Cole.Harbour..Major.connector.streets.between.these.two.areas.are.Portland.Estates.Boulevard.to.Spring.Avenue.and.Portland.Hills.Drive.to.Regal.Road
Electoral district of Annapolis
•. Leave.Annapolis.Royal.and.other.affected.communities.in.the.electoral.district.of.Annapolis
•. Hold.a.public.meeting.in.Annapolis.Royal.to.discuss.proposed.changes.to.the.electoral.district.of.Annapolis
•. Changes.to.the.electoral.district.of.Annapolis.may.impact.taxation.rates.and.health.and.education.districts
•. Thank.you.for.holding.an.additional.public.meeting.in.Annapolis.Royal
•. Recognize.the.community.of.interest.in.western.Annapolis.County.and.amend.its.proposed.recommendation.to.return.the.area.from.Bear.River.to.the.Youngs.Mountain.and.Spurr.Roads.back.into.the.same.riding.as.the.rest.of.Annapolis.County
Electoral district of Antigonish
•. Pleased.with.Revised.Interim.Report’s.proposal.for.the.electoral.district.of.Antigonish;.i.e.,.leave.as.is
Electoral district of Bedford-Birch Cove
•. Leave.Bedford.West.in.the.electoral.district.of.Bedford-Birch.Cove
•. Pleased.with.changes.in.the.Revised.Interim.Report.affecting.the.electoral.district.of.Bedford-Birch.Cove
•. Recommend.the.polls.of.1–14.and.46–48.with.their.current.boundaries.could.be.moved
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 99
Electoral district of Cape Breton Nova
•. Community.of.Whitney.Pier.should.not.be.awkwardly.and.artificially.divided
•. Add.polls.13–17.to.the.electoral.district.of.Cape.Breton.Nova.from.the.existing.electoral.district.of.Cape.Breton.South
Electoral district of Cape Breton West
•. Strong.objection.to.the.proposed.changes.to.the.electoral.district.of.Cape.Breton.West,.particularly.with.respect.to.the.Gabarus.area
Electoral district of Chester-St. Margaret’s
•. Return.east.side.of.St..Margaret’s.Bay.to.the.electoral.district.of.Chester-St..Margaret’s
•. Electoral.district.of.Colchester.North
•. Pleased.with.proposals.in.the.Revised.Interim.Report.that.impact.the.electoral.district.of.Colchester.North
•. Include.a.portion.of.the.electoral.district.of.Colchester.North.with.the.electoral.district.of.Pictou.West
•. Keep.the.electoral.district.of.Colchester.North.as.is
Electoral district of Cole Harbour
•. Remove.a.small.area.defined.as.the.area.to.the.north.and.west.of.the.intersection.of.Astral.Drive.and.Millbrook.Avenue.from.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Cole.Harbour-Eastern.Passage.to.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Cole.Harbour-Portland.Valley
•. No.changes.to.the.electoral.district.of.Cole.Harbour
•. Include.the.area.known.as.Bel.Ayr
Electoral district of Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage
•. Extend.this.electoral.district.into.the.Fisherman.Cove.and.Woodside.areas
100 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Electoral district of Cumberland North
•. Original.proposal.in.Interim.Report.more.effectively.addresses.the.Commission’s.mandate
•. Include.a.public.meeting.in.Cumberland.County
Electoral district of Dartmouth East
•. Do.not.split.the.electoral.district.along.Main.Street;.maintain.the.Main.Street.Dartmouth.business.district.community.intact
•. Do.not.bisect.the.Montebello.neighbourhoods
•. Rename.the.electoral.district.to.Dartmouth.East-The.Canal.or.Dartmouth.East.and.the.Canal
•. Leave.the.electoral.district.as.is
•. Rename.Preston-Dartmouth.East.and.include.all.of.the.communities.presently.in.the.electoral.district.of.Preston.with.the.exception.of.the.communities.of.Porter’s.Lake.and.Minesville,.which.would.go.the.electoral.district.of.Eastern.Shore
Electoral district of Dartmouth North
•. Pleased.the.boundaries.will.remain.the.same
•. Electoral.district.of.Dartmouth.South-Portland.Valley
•. The.areas.west.of.Highway.111,.known.as.South.Woodside.and.Imperoyal.be.moved.to.the.electoral.district.of.Cole.Harbour-Eastern.Passage.and.be.renamed.Dartmouth.South
Electoral district of Halifax Clayton Park
•. Communities.of.Birch.Cove.and.Prince’s.Lodge.do.not.have.anything.in.common.with.the.residents.of.Clayton.Park
•. Keep.the.Rockingham.area.with.Birch.Cove.and.take.school.districts.into.consideration..The.Willett.Street.area.would.fit.with.the.proposed.Fairview-Clayton.Park.riding
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 101
Electoral district of Guysborough-Sheet Harbour
•. Extend.the.electoral.district.to.the.electoral.district.of.Eastern.Shore.and.name.it.Guysborough-Eastern.Shore
Electoral district of Halifax Atlantic
•. Transfer.three.polls.in.and.around.Williams.Lake.Road.from.Halifax.Atlantic.to.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Halifax.Armdale
•. Gain.five.polls.in.and.around.Cowie.Hill.from.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Halifax.Armdale
Electoral district of Halifax Citadel-Sable Island
•. The.polls.between.Jubilee.Road.and.Coburg.Road.should.remain.in.the.electoral.district.of.Halifax.Citadel-Sable.Island
Electoral district of Halifax Needham
•. Transfer.a.poll.south.of.Cornwallis.Street.to.Halifax.Citadel-Sable.Island
•. Subtract.polls.south.of.North.Street.to.Halifax.Chebucto,.which.would.be.renamed.Halifax.Chebucto-Gottingen
•. To.be.renamed.Halifax.Needham-Africville
Electoral district of Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville
•. Give.Westwood.Hills.and.Haliburton.Heights.to.Hammonds.Plains-Upper.Sackville
•. Keep.the.community.of.Lucasville.in.the.same.electoral.district.as.the.communities.of.Middle.and.Upper.Sackville
Electoral district of Hants East
•. Proposed.boundary.change.regarding.a.portion.of.Enfield.be.reconsidered:.Horne.Settlement.and.Arrow.Head.Park.subdivision
102 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Electoral district of Hants West
•. Place.communities.of.Pigott.Lake,.East.Uniacke,.Lakelands,.Mount.Uniacke,.and.South.Uniacke.in.the.electoral.district.of.Hants.West
Electoral district of Kings North
•. Pleased.that.the.Revised.Interim.Report.maintains.the.current.boundaries.for.Kings.North
Electoral district of Kings South
•. Support.for.the.current.size.of.the.electoral.district
Electoral district of Lunenburg West
•. Revisit.the.proposed.changes.to.Lunenburg.West
•. Any.name.change.for.this.electoral.district.avoid.using.Lunenburg.Centre
•. Revert.to.the.Lunenburg.West.riding.boundaries.that.preceded.the.last.boundary.review
•. Status.quo
Electoral district of Pictou East
•. If.a.change.has.to.be.made,.then.create.two.ridings.in.Pictou
•. Eliminating.the.electoral.district.of.Pictou.East.is.not.in.the.best.interests.of.the.people.of.the.constituency
•. Leave.Westville.in.the.electoral.district.of.Pictou.East
Electoral districts of Queens, Shelburne, and Argyle
•. Consolidate.the.electoral.districts.of.Queens,.Shelburne,.and.Argyle.in.the.effort.to.identify.two.electoral.districts.that.meet.the.expectation.of.relative.parity.among.affected.voters
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 103
Electoral district of Sackville-Cobequid
•. Leave.as.is
Electoral district of Timberlea-Prospect
•. Return.Hubley.Wedge,.including.Sheldrake.Lake,.to.the.electoral.district.of.Timberlea-Prospect
•. Transfer.one.poll.from.the.Moody.Lake.Subdivision.from.the.electoral.district.of.Timberlea-Prospect-St..Margaret’s.to.the.electoral.district.of.Halifax.Atlantic
Electoral district of Waverly-Fall River-Beaver Bank
•. Should.be.a.balance.of.electors.with.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Bedford
•. Disagree.with.proposal.to.join.Beaver.Bank.and.Sackville;.Beaver.Bank.and.Fall.River.were.joined.as.communities.and.this.works
Electoral district of Yarmouth
•. Splicing.the.electoral.district.of.Yarmouth.in.half.is.not.the.answer
•. Merge.the.electoral.district.of.Argyle.with.the.electoral.district.of.Queens.and.merge.the.electoral.district.of.Clare.with.the.electoral.district.of.Digby-Annapolis
•. Merge.the.electoral.districts.of.Argyle.and.Clare
•. Thank.you.for.coming.to.Yarmouth
Electoral district size
•. ±25%.must.be.adhered.to.in.the.allocation.of.legislative.seats
•. Pleased.that.the.Revised.Interim.Report.reflects.the.±25%.population.requirement
104 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Electoral system
•. Consider.Proportional.Representation.as.an.electoral.system
•. Use.proportional.representation.to.address.the.concerns.of.the.Acadian.and.African.Nova.Scotia.Communities
General
•. Commission.has.a.phenomenal.job.in.maintaining.fairness.across.the.province
•. Commission.should.recommend.that.the.House.of.Assembly’s.Management.Commission.look.at.increasing.the.constituency.budget.for.large,.rural.areas
•. Commission.reference.the.current.funding.formula.employed.by.Elections.Nova.Scotia,.which.is.strictly.based.on.voters
•. “Cape.Breton”.should.not.be.used.in.any.constituency.names
•. Include.maps.of.each.proposed.constituency.in.the.final.report
•. Government.has.forgotten.there.is.a.rural.attitude,.a.rural.demeanor,.a.rural.perspective.in.Nova.Scotia
•. The.final.report.of.the.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.should.be.subjected.to.a.province-wide.referendum.during.the.next.election
Governance
•. There.is.potential.for.conflict.because.the.Boundary.Commission.is.not.an.outside.agency
Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)
•. HRM.remains.under-represented.under.the.proposals.of.the.Revised.Interim.Report;.suggest.that.the.Commission.revert.to.a.recommendation.for.a.52-seat.legislature.and.add.another.seat.in.HRM
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 105
Interim Report
•. Be.considered.as.the.Final.Report.of.the.Commission
•. The.findings.and.conclusions.of.the.Interim.Report.must.be.included.and.made.part.of.the.Commission’s.Final.Report
Names of electoral districts
•. Consider.using.the.names.of.Richmond-Port.Hawkesbury,.New.Waterford-Sydney,.and.Mira.River-.Louisbourg.as.names.for.electoral.districts
Number of electoral districts/Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)
•. The.Commission.should.have.eliminated.10.electoral.districts
•. Consider.both.natural.geographic.boundaries.and.the.volume.differences.in.the.electoral.districts
•. A.reduction.in.legislative.seats.isn’t.required.at.this.time
•. A.reduction.in.legislative.seats.is.required
•. Maintain.52.electoral.districts
•. The.Commission.should.consider.a.43.member.House.of.Assembly
•. Reduce.the.number.of.MLAs.to.36
•. The.number.of.MLAs.in.the.Halifax.Regional.Municipality.should.be16.(the.same.as.HRM)
Public meetings
•. Encouraged.to.continue.to.gather.information
Proposed electoral district of Bedford
•. Accept.the.former.Town.of.Bedford.lines.as.the.boundary,.thereby.removing.the.area.of.Larry.Uteck.Drive.along.the.Bedford.Highway.from.Clearwater.Fine.Foods.to.the.Hemlock.Ravine
106 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Proposed electoral district of Cape Breton Southwest
•. “Richmond”.should.be.part.of.the.name
•. This.proposed.electoral.district.should.be.reconsidered.and.returned.to.the.status.quo
•. There.are.no.historic.connections.between.Gabarus,.Belfry,.or.French.Road.with.Port.Hawkesbury
Proposed electoral district of Clayton Park West
•. Return.the.Blue.Mountain-Birch.Cove.Lakes.Regional.Park.area.to.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Clayton.Park.West
•. The.Bayers.Lake.Business.Park.should.be.in.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Clayton.Park.West
•. Add.the.small.residential.block.of.Hamshaw.and.Saskatoon.Drive.to.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Clayton.Park.West
•. Place.the.communities.of.Birch.Cove,.Rockingham,.Cresthaven,.Sheffield,.Wedgewood,.Sherwood.Heights,.and.Sherwood.Park.in.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Clayton.Park.West
•. Willett.Street.(on.the.west.side.Dunbrack.Street).fits.well.with.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Fairview-Clayton.Park
•. Reconsider.where.the.Mount.Royale.subdivision.and.the.area.around.Main.Avenue.and.Washmill.Lake.Drive.fits
•. The.Maskwa.Aquatic.Club.should.stay.within.its.existing.riding
Proposed electoral district of Fairview-Clayton Park
•. Restore.the.eastern.boundary.line.of.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Fairview-Clayton.Park.to.the.current.CN.rail.line
Proposed electoral district of Guysborough-Pictou East
•. Geographically,.it.is.unnecessarily.large
•. Consider.using.the.new.federal.riding.boundaries.from.the.Antigonish-Guysborough.county.line.to.the.Northumberland.Strait
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 107
•. Will.be.difficult.to.deal.with.from.a.communications.perspective
•. Keep.three.seats.in.Pictou.County;.i.e.,.status.quo
•. Expand.current.electoral.district.of.Guysborough-Sheet.Harbour.westward.until.it.meets.the.80.to.85%.seat.entitlement
•. Expand.current.electoral.district.of.Eastern.Shore.westward.toward.Halifax.Regional.Municipality
Proposed electoral district of Halifax Armdale
•. Transfer.the.Mount.Royale.subdivision.from.Halifax.Armdale.to.Fairview-Clayton.Park
•. Restore.the.eastern.boundary.line.of.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Fairview-Clayton.Park
•. Be.renamed.Halifax.Northwest.Arm.and.expand.eastward.to.Connaught.Avenue,.continuing.south.along.Connaught.Avenue.to.Jubilee.Road,.and.then.west.along.Jubilee.Road.to.the.Northwest.Arm
Proposed electoral district of Dartmouth-Preston
•. Expand.the.boundary.of.the.proposed.new.electoral.district.by.extending.it.further.down.the.Forest.Hills.Parkway,.as.far.down.as.the.Cole.Harbour.Road
Proposed electoral district of Hammonds Plains-Lucasville
•. Mount.Uniacke.should.not.be.in.the.same.constituency.as.Hammonds.Plains.and.Lucasville
•. These.three.distinct.communities.do.not.logically.fit.together
Proposed electoral district of Lunenburg Centre
•. Modify.the.electoral.boundary.proposed.in.the.Revised.Interim.Report.to.place.Hebbville.Academy.within.the.proposed.electoral.district.of.Lunenburg.Centre
108 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Proposed electoral district of Queens-Lunenburg West
•. Reconsider.this.proposal.based.on.voter.turnouts,.geography.and.no.common.interest.between.the.two.counties
•. Address.the.Maitland.Bridge.issue
Proposed electoral district of Sackville-Beaver Bank
•. Thank.you.for.the.favourable.consideration.given.to.the.proposal.from.Beaver.Bank
•. The.boundary.between.Sackville-Beaver.Bank.and.Sackville-Cobequid.should.continue.to.run.entirely.along.the.Beaver.Bank.Road
Protected Constituencies
•. Commission.got.it.right.with.regard.to.the.Protected.Constituencies
•. Strong.support.for.the.maintenance.of.the.electoral.districts.of.Clare.and.Argyle.as..protected.constituencies
•. Combine.the.electoral.district.of.Argyle.with.the.electoral.district.of.Clare
•. Keep.the.status.quo
•. Eliminate.protected.constituencies
•. Adding.the.Town.of.Port.Hawkesbury.and.northern.Cape.Breton.will.diminish.the.chances.of.electing.another.Acadian.representative
Terms of Reference
•. Consider.boundaries.as.you.see.fit
•. Obtain.a.constitutional.ruling.on.the.validity.of.the.Commission’s.Terms.of.Reference
•. Commission.should.seek.independent.legal.advice.as.to.whether.the.position.of.the.government.regarding.the.terms.of.reference.and.regarding.your.work.was.in.fact.legitimate.or.not
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 109
Voter parity
•. Adhere.to.the.principle.of.representation.by.population
•. Applaud.the.government.for.its.initiative.to.have.electoral.boundaries.defined.by.population.as.opposed.to.special.interests
•. Those.electoral.districts.that.currently.meet.parity.should.be.exempt.from.change.if.at.all.possible
•. Maximize.the.25%.rule.for.urban.electoral.districts
110 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
Appendix J: Letter from the Hon. Ross Landry, Attorney General, June 14, 2012
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 111
Appendix K: Elaboration on Data Sources
The.terms.of.reference.set.for.the.Commission.specify.that.the.most.recent.census.and.other.available.population.data,.as.well.as.demographic.data.relating.to.age,.language,.and.cultural.diversity.are.to.be.used.for.delineating.the.proposed.provincial.electoral.boundaries..Population.count.of.electors—that.is,.Canadian.citizens.who.are.18.years.of.age.and.older,.and.living.in.Nova.Scotia—is.to.be.considered.by.the.Commission.
On.February.8,.2012,.Statistics.Canada.released.the.population.and.dwelling.counts.as.the.result.of.the.national.enumeration.conducted.in.2011.with.the.reference.day.of.May.10,.2011..These.basic.counts.were.reported.on.the.level.of.the.dissemination.block.(DB),.the.smallest.census.geographic.area.
To.obtain.demographic.information.needed.to.calculate.the.population.of.electors.for.the.2012.delineation.of.the.provincial.electoral.boundaries,.the.2006.census.information.and.geography.had.to.be.used.as.the.base,.since.2011.census.demographics.were.not.yet.available.
Elections.Canada.worked.closely.with.Statistics.Canada.in.obtaining.this.demographic.information.for.the.2012.delineation.of.the.federal.electoral.boundaries..To.derive.demographic.data.for.the.2011.dissemination.areas.(DAs)—a.DA.is.a.geographic.unit.composed.of.more.than.one.DB—Statistics.Canada.transposed.the.dissemination.blocks.of.2011.and.2006.census.geography.and.re-summed.the.2006.demographic.data.counts.of.each.DB.into.the.2011.DAs..However,.Statistics.Canada.suppressed.some.data.for.confidentiality.reasons.on.the.DB.level.before.providing.the.demographic.counts.for.a.number.of.geographical.units.to.Elections.Canada.
To.overcome.the.impact.of.the.suppressed.data.and.to.provide.demographic.information.at.the.DB.and.DA.levels,.Elections.Canada.worked.further.on.these.2006.Census.demographics,.now.redistributed.according.to.the.census.geography.of.2011,.and.applied.imputation.methods.to.substitute.the.value.for.geographic.units.with.missing.or.zero.population.in.2006..Elections.Canada.completed.this.work.for.all.of.Canada,.including.Nova.Scotia’s.census.geographic.units.
On.February.16,.2012,.Elections.Canada.provided.Elections.Nova.Scotia.(ENS).with.the.newly.derived.and.adjusted.demographic.data.for.the.province..In.particular,.derived.counts.for.Canadian.citizens.who.are.18.years.of.age.or.older.were.provided.on.the.level.of.the.DA..The.sum.of.this.demographic.count.established.the.total.number.of.electors.in.Nova.Scotia.used.to.derive.the.average.number.of.electors.in.an.electoral.district.
ENS.has.developed.an.electronic.Electoral.Boundaries.Tool.(EBT),.which.is.a.fully.functional.redistribution.application..This.tool.offered.the.Commission,.with.the.support.of.the.ENS.GIS.Analyst,.the.capability.to.prepare.various.boundary.scenarios,.including.the.demographic.information.of.electors.
Using.the.2011.census.DA.geography.and.the.elector.demographic.counts.provided.by.Elections.Canada.for.each.DA,.the.tool.is.able.to.provide,.in.minutes,.the.number.of.electors.within.any.specific.boundary..It.sums.up.the.counts.of.all.DAs.that.are.enclosed.within.the.boundary,.and.wherever.a.DA.is.traversed.
112 Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation
by.the.boundary.and.split.into.two.parts,.the.EBT.uses.the.proportional.distribution.of.registered.electors.within.the.DA.for.calculating.the.elector.count.of.its.parts..The.proportional.distribution.of.electors.is.derived.from.the.spatial.distribution.of.the.residential.civic.addresses.and.the.electors.registered.in.the.Register.of.Electors.as.living.there.as.of.February.2012..The.Register.of.Electors.containing.both.the.addresses.and.the.electors.is.continuously.maintained.up.to.date.by.ENS.
Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission Toward Fair and Effective Representation 113
Appendix L: Composition of the Provincial Electoral Boundaries Commission
Composition of the Provincial Electoral Boundaries Commission
To.promote.fairness.and.impartiality,.the.Select.Committee.agreed.that.current.or.former.candidates.or.members.of.federal.or.provincial.legislatures.or.municipal.councils.or.individuals.closely.associated.with.partisan.politics.would.not.be.appointed.to.serve.on.the.Commission.
The.Select.Committee.further.agreed.that.the.Commission.would.broadly.represent.the.population.of.the.province.
The.Select.Committee.agreed.to.appoint.members.to.the.Commission.based.on.their.experience,.skill,.and.commitment.to.ensuring.to.the.greatest.degree.possible.that.Nova.Scotia’s.electoral.boundaries.result.in.effective.representation.for.all.its.citizens.
Based.on.this.understanding,.the.following.individuals.are.appointed.to.the.provincial.Electoral.Boundaries.Commission.
•. Dr..Teresa.MacNeil,.Chair,.Johnstown,.Richmond.County
•. Dr..J..Colin.Dodds,.Vice-chair,.Halifax
•. Dr..Jill.L..Grant,.Dartmouth.(on.May.31,.2012,.Dr..Grant.resigned.from.the.Commission)
•. Dr..James.P..Bickerton,.Antigonish
•. Mr..Douglas.Peach,.Marion.Bridge,.Cape.Breton
•. Mr..Paul.Gaudet,.Saulnierville
•. Mr..Rustum.Southwell,.Bedford
•. Ms..Barbara.Feeney,.Mahone.Bay
Special Circumstances
In.the.event.a.member.of.the.Provincial.Boundaries.Commission.cannot.complete.his.or.her.duties,.the.Select.Committee.will.name.a.replacement..The.Select.Committee.may.also.reconvene.to.address.any.operational.issues.that.may.arise.