The Electoral Boundaries Act provides that, within 90 days following the third general election after the Act became law in 1994, an Electoral Boundaries Commission must be established to make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly on the area, boundaries and the names of the 27 electoral districts which were initially established under the Act.
Section 8 of the Act specifically establishes the membership of the Committee at three persons. The chair is appointed by Executive Council and he or she must be a Supreme Court Judge or a retired Supreme Court Judge. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly appoints the remaining two members, one of whom is nominated by the Premier and the other by the Leader of the Opposition. The Commission must report their recommendations to the Speaker who must lay the Commission's report before the Legislative Assembly immediately if the Assembly is sitting at the time of the delivery of the report and, if it is not sitting, within seven days of the Assembly commencing its next session.
As previously announced by the Speaker, the Chair of the Commission is Mr. Justice John McQuaid. The Commissioners are John Mitchell Q.C. and Roberta Hubley. Shortly after their appointment, the Commission commenced work.
The Commission has today launched a Web site which contains background information as well as the enumeration data from the general election of September 29, 2003. The Web site also lists a number of issues which the Commission has identified on a preliminary basis as being relevant to its recommendations. The Web site address is www.electoralboundaries.pe.ca.
Mr. Justice McQuaid commented, "The Act states that the number of electors in each electoral district shall not be more than 25 percent above, nor more than 25 percent below, the average number of electors within the 27 electoral districts." He also stated, "Using the 2003 enumeration data, the average number of electors per district was 3,600, and 9 electoral districts are now outside the variance provided by the Act. Bringing these districts within the variance may require the Commission to recommend changes to the boundaries and areas in all or many of the remaining 18 districts."
The Commission has decided to hold 13 public meetings across the province seeking input from the public as to how it should best carry out this task. Oral and written submissions from any member of the public are welcome at these meetings. There is a complete schedule of the meetings on the Web site, and notice of the meetings will be published in the daily and weekly newspapers.
Mr Justice McQuaid stated that, "The meetings are scheduled at the following locations commencing at 7 p.m.: Westisle Composite High School, Southern Kings Consolidated School, Stratford Town Centre, Vanier Community Centre, Kensington Recreational Centre, Loyalist Country Inn, Whim Inn, Dutch Inn, Ellerslie Consolidated School, Rollo Bay Inn, Crapaud Curling Club, Holland College Lecture Theater and Morell High School."
All the oral submissions made at the public meetings will be recorded, and they also may be accessed through the Commission's Web site.
The Commission looks forward to receiving written submissions from anyone who may be unable to attend the public meetings. Written submissions may be e-mailed to the commission at electoralboundaries.pe.ca under WordPerfect format, and you will be contacted to confirm receipt of your presentation. These submissions may also be accessed through the Commission's Web site.
The Commission office is located at the J. Angus MacLean Building, 94 Great George Street, PO Box 774, Charlottetown PE C1A 7L3; telephone, (902) 894-0354; Toll Free in PEI, 1-888-234-8683; fax, (902) 368-6500; Web Site: www.electoralboundaries.pe.ca