Gerry Byrne would no longer be the MP for this region if new proposed changes to the federal electorial ridings go ahead. That is, unless he chooses to run in the new riding of Bay d’Espoir-Central-Notre Dame.
Byrne, who is currently the Member of Parliament for Humber-St. Barbe-Baie Verte would see his current riding expand to the south, and decrease from the east, relinquishing the Baie Verte Peninsula and Green Bay region to the new proposed riding of Bay d’Espoir-Central-Notre Dame. It’s all part of changes proposed by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Newfoundland and Labrador and will be the subject of public hearing this summer.
“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,” said a release from the Commission.
The changes would see five of the seven Newfoundland and Labrador ridings change - including this one. A new riding of ‘Long Range Mountains’ would encompass part of Judy Foote’s current riding of Random-Burin-St. Georges and extend into most of Byrne’s current riding. Parts of both of those ridings would also join forces with part of Scott Simms’ current district of Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor to form the new Central riding, while Simms and Foote would also split up to form the new Bonavista-Burin-Trinity riding.
Byrne told media outlets this week that he’s in favor of the changes, which would likely come into effect for the next election in 2015.
More information on the changes are available online at www.federalredistribution.ca
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