FAQ
Does the BC Electoral Boundaries Commission review electoral district boundaries for federal elections in BC?
No. The BC Electoral Boundaries Commission only reviews electoral district boundaries for provincial elections in BC. A separate commission is currently reviewing the boundaries for federal elections. Learn more about the federal commission here.
Is the BC Electoral Boundaries Commission the same organization as Elections BC?
No, they are separate organizations, though British Columbia’s Chief Electoral Officer is a member of the Commission. Elections BC provides administrative support to the Commission.
Who are the members of the the current Electoral Boundaries Commission?
The members of the current Electoral Boundaries Commission were appointed on October 21, 2021. They are:
- Justice Nitya Iyer of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (chair)
- Linda Tynan, Local Government Management Consultant, and
- Anton Boegman, British Columbia’s Chief Electoral Officer
What is the role of the Commission?
After every two general elections, a three-person, independent, non-partisan electoral boundaries commission is established to propose changes to the area, boundaries and names of the electoral districts of British Columbia. This ensures that each MLA represents a similar number of people while taking into account exceptional circumstances.
The Legislative Assembly reviews the Commission’s proposals and votes to approve them, reject them, or approve them with alterations. If the Commission’s proposals are approved or approved with alterations, the government must introduce them as a Bill.
How many electoral districts are there in BC?
There are currently 87 electoral districts in BC. When making its recommendations, the Commission can propose up to 93 districts.
What reports will the Commission publish?
The Commission will publish a preliminary report and a final report. Public consultations will be held before each report is published.
The first phase of public meetings is being scheduled for March to May 2022, to hear from British Columbians about their opinions on the current electoral districts, and what changes, if any, they would suggest. The commission will review and consider presentations and submissions gathered from public meetings and received online before publishing its preliminary report.
The second phase of public meetings will take place after the Commission’s preliminary report is published. The commission will gather input on its preliminary proposals before publishing its final report.
What will the Commission consider when making its proposals?
The Commission’s proposals will ensure that each MLA represents about the same number of people. This is called “representation by population”. The commission can also consider:
- Geography
- Demographics
- Means of communication and transport, and
- Special circumstances
How can I make a submission to the Commission?
You can take part in the process by making a submission to the Commission online, by mail, or at a public meeting during one of the public input periods. The public input period for the Commission’s preliminary report will be from March to May 2022.