PRINCE RUPERT— New Democrat MLA Gary Coons is concerned that the voices of rural British Columbians will not be heard in upcoming consultations on the Electoral Boundaries Commision’s preliminary report. The report recommended the elimination of three rural ridings and the addition of five new ones the province’s urban areas.

“I’m disappointed that there wasn’t a greater recognition of the unique identities of British Columbia’s isolated and rural regions,” said the North Coast MLA. "This report fails to protect the interests of all British Columbians."

The Electoral Boundaries Commission has scheduled a series of hearings on the preliminary report to begin on Sept. 5. There are no hearings scheduled to be held anywhere in the North Coast Constituency.

“There are two consultations being held in Surrey and Vancouver, as well as one in Burnaby, one in Port Coquitlam and one in North Vancouver,” noted MLA Coons, “but none being held anywhere in the North Coast constituency, or in the proposed Northlands constituency, for that matter.

“It goes without saying that it would be much easier and cheaper for someone in Burnaby to hop on a bus or skytrain and take a half-hour ride to one of these consultations, than it would be for someone on Haida Gwaii to get to Terrace,” said Coons. “It would cost hundreds of dollars and several days off of work for someone from Haida Gwaii to get their concerns heard.”

New Democrat Robin Austin, MLA for Skeena, was appointed the lead critic for rural communities in the wake of the recommendation to eliminate rural representation.

“This appointment signals the NDP’s commitment to a British Columbia for everyone,” Coons said. “The NDP understands that British Columbia cannot be divided without harming everyone. Both urban and rural communities play important roles in the economy of British Columbia; when one region struggles the whole province suffers.”