The provincial constituency boundaries are being redrawn as Saskatchewan's Legislative Assembly is adding three constituencies to satisfy the growing population.
The previous boundaries, set in 2002, were made for 58 constituencies, but for the next provincial election in late 2015 or early 2016, 61 MLAs will be elected to the legislature. Every 10 years the boundaries are reconsidered and revised to reflect the changes in population in each pocket of the province.
As the population swells in this part of the province, the geographical footprint of the constituency will continue to decrease. The population quotient number for each constituency is 13,059. Boundaries are realigned to keep each constituency as close to that figure as possible.
Last September, the Saskatchewan Constituency Boundaries Commission was in Estevan for local consultations at the courthouse regarding the proposed changes to electoral boundaries. A pair of local delegates made submissions at that time requesting there be no changes to the constituency, particularly where the eastern boundary was concerned.
It seems those wishes have been granted, as the coming changes involve redrawn boundaries only to the western border of the Estevan constituency.
Currently, the Town of Radville and villages of Beaubier and Lake Alma are part of the Estevan constituency and their residents vote for the Estevan MLA. For the next provincial election, those communities will be part of the Weyburn-Big Muddy constituency.
The Estevan constituency will now reach west a little farther than Oungre, while maintaining its boundaries north to Halbrite and Benson, and southeast to North Portal. The boundaries around Benson will remain unchanged.
Frobisher will also remain in the Cannington Constituency, though the initial proposal had the village moving into Estevan's.
The province passed a bill in May approving the boundary changes and the addition of three new constituencies. Two new constituencies will be added within Saskatoon while one will be added in Regina.
Only two constituencies will see no changes to their borders, Athabasca and Cumberland in the northern part of the province.
