Nova Scotia

Proposed boundary changes aim to give Chéticamp voters greater parity

The Nova Scotia Electoral Boundaries Commission has proposed four changes to the electoral map in order to create a special Acadian electoral district for Chéticamp and its surrounding communities. This comes in response to a 2024 court decision that found the 2018 electoral boundaries did not provide fair representation for the traditionally Acadian region.

Currently, Chéticamp is part of the Inverness electoral district, which includes 14,498 electors, with 10.7 per cent of them being Francophone. The Commission’s interim report outlines four options for restructuring the electoral map to better serve the Acadian community in Chéticamp.

One option, known as the Doyles Bridge proposal, would split Inverness into two ridings. A new northern riding would have 2,805 electors, nearly half of whom are Francophones. The remaining voters would form a smaller Inverness riding, where only 2.2 per cent would be Francophones. This option is said to provide the strongest voter representation for Chéticamp’s Acadian community.

Another scenario would create a larger northern district with 3,924 electors, extending south to include the Margarees. The third option would establish a new district with 5,908 voters, with 25 per cent of them being Francophones. However, this option would divide several Gaelic-speaking areas like Judique, Mabou, Inverness, and Port Hood.

The fourth option would split the riding and create one district that is one-third Francophone, with the remainder of Inverness having just 1.4 per cent. While both ridings fall below voter parity, this option reshapes Inverness and its surrounding communities more directly.

The Commission will be holding public meetings starting in October to gather feedback on these proposed changes. Stay tuned for updates on the final decision regarding Nova Scotia’s electoral map.

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