already one of the largest federal ridings in the country, Skeena-Bulkley Valley could grow even a little bit larger thanks to a recommendation from the federal electoral boundaries commission.
The recommendation is to add all of the Bella Coola Valley on the mid coast.
“I have been travelling to Bella Coola once or twice a year ever since I became a Member of Parliament and it has never made any sense to me that Bella Coola is in one riding and Hagensbourg, Fourmile, Firvale and Stuie are in another,” said Skeena - Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen in welcoming the recommendation.
The expansion recommendation is part of the boundaries commission plan to add six seats to the existing B.C. 36 seats in the House of Commons to reflect the province’s growing population.
The juggling of boundaries and creation of new ridings falls within guidelines to keep riding populations within an average of plus or minus 25 per cent.
Decisions on boundary changes are made every 10 years and use latest census populations.
Cullen is also suggesting that as the riding geography changes, it may be time to consider a new name.
That’s because the riding now extends into the Cariboo and up north, beyond the geography area of the Skeena and Bulkley Valley regions. He’s inviting suggestions for possible new names.