Surrey will get a fifth MP and a new federal riding come the next federal election as part of a complex redrawing of electoral district boundaries.
The biggest change is the proposed creation of a new Langley-Cloverdale riding that splits Cloverdale and Clayton off from the existing South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale federal riding, leaving a South Surrey-White Rock riding in the south.
The new Langley-Cloverdale riding also takes in much of the current Fleetwood-Port Kells riding.
The other three Surrey ridings would be renamed North Surrey-Guildford, Surrey Centre and West Surrey-Whalley. They would take the place of the existing Surrey North, Newton-North Delta and Fleetwood-Port Kells.
Neighouring Delta-Richmond East becomes just Delta and would take in North Delta.
The changes are proposed by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission, which proposes adding six new electoral districts in B.C.
Canada’s electoral districts are reviewed every 10 years by independent commissions in each province to account for shifts and growth in the population. These reviews consider population numbers – as captured in the federal census – as well as other important factors such as communities of interest or identity, and historical and geographic factors.
“The explosive population growth in the geographic area between Delta and Chilliwack south of the Fraser River dictates the need for additional electoral districts there,” the commission said in its findings.
“In particular, the Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford geographic areas have seen remarkable population growth.”
A public hearing in Surrey on the local boundary changes is set for the Sheraton Guildford hotel in Surrey on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
Anyone wishing to make a presentation must register by Aug. 30. For more information see www.federalredistribution.ca.
