Media

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Prince Edward Island
Begins the Process of Readjusting Boundaries

CHARLOTTETOWN, Monday, March 26, 2012 – The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Prince Edward Island, recently established, has begun its review of the province's federal electoral districts. The three-person commission is headed by the Honourable Gordon L. Campbell and commissioners Mr. Armand DesRoches and Mr. Eugene Murphy.

The Prince Edward Island Commission is one of 10 independent federal electoral boundaries commissions created by law to redraw the boundaries of Canada's federal electoral districts.

The work of readjusting Prince Edward Island's federal electoral boundaries is not simply a mathematical exercise whereby each electoral district ends up with roughly the same number of people, but rather a balancing act that must take into consideration communities of interest or identity as well as a district's history and geographic size.

Prince Edward Island's population has increased from 135,294 in 2001 to 140,204 in 2011, and the Commission is currently formulating a proposal for the province's four seats in the House of Commons to reflect the population growth and shifts.

The Prince Edward Island Commission will publish its proposal outlining the new electoral map in a few months, and public hearings will follow at various locations across the province. Advertisements in newspapers and on the Commission's website will notify Prince Edward Islanders of the dates, time and place of these hearings where groups and individuals can participate in the process and share their opinions.

The public hearings and input from the electorate had a great impact on the electoral boundaries created by the last commission in 2002. In order to involve the public as soon as possible in the process, the Commission is inviting citizens to participate in creating the initial proposal by providing their comments by e-mail or mail by April 27, 2012.

To learn more about the redistribution of Prince Edward Island's federal electoral districts, visit www.federal-redistribution.ca.

Information:

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Prince Edward Island
70 Kent Street
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
C1A 1M9

1-855-726-4105 (toll-free)
pei-ipe@rfed-rcf.ca