According to a report in today’s Leader-Post 13 of 14 Saskatchewan MPs have filed objections related to the proposed realignment of federal electoral boundaries in Saskatchewan that would see three dedicated urban ridings created in Saskatoon and two urban and one blended rural/urban riding created in Regina.
The only MP who did not file an objection is Andrew Scheer who is the Speaker of the House and is presumably limited in his ability to engage in partisan politics in that role. Regina Wascana Ralph Goodale actually supports the proposed changes, but he filed an objection to the minority report delivered by Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities president David Marit that advocated that the current political map, with its mix of dedicated rural and blended rural/urban ridings should be maintained.
The other 12 MPs, all Conservative of course, have filed objections to the majority report of Chair Ronald Mills and commissioner John Courtney that proposed that dedicated urban ridings be created. The issue will now be considered by the House of Commons standing committee on procedure and house affairs. Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre MP Tom Lukiwiski sits on that committee and he has said he will recuse himself during the discussions on Saskatchewan’s electoral boundaries since he’s one of the objectors.
Regardless of what the parliamentary committee recommends, the boundary commission is an independent body. So it is not required to act on any recommendations that the committee might make.
