News Release: New Provincial Electoral Division Boundaries Released

(Winnipeg – December 23, 2008) - Manitoba’s Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission has completed its report establishing final boundaries and names for the 57 electoral divisions in the province and has submitted the report to the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the Assembly.

The redistribution of Manitoba's provincial electoral division boundaries is a consultative process. The commission received over 200 submissions regarding preliminary proposed boundaries released in June of 2008. Submissions were made in writing or at one of the 12 public hearings held throughout the province in September. The commission considered this feedback to be of great importance and an essential component in the preparation of the final report.

Printed copies of the final report can be obtained by contacting the commission. The report has also been posted to the commission website with maps for each of the divisions.

According to 2006 amendments to The Electoral Divisions Act, the commission's report comes into effect at the first dissolution of the Legislature after the end of the year the report is submitted.

The responsibility of the commission is to review all provincial electoral division boundaries including the name of each division. The commission, which operates every 10 years, is non-partisan and independent of government.

The 2008 commission is comprised of the Honourable Chief Justice of Manitoba Richard J. Scott (Chairperson), Manitoba's Chief Electoral Officer Richard D. Balasko, President and Vice-Chancellor of University College of the North Denise K. Henning, Ph.D., Dean of Arts for the University of Manitoba Richard Sigurdson, Ph.D., and President and Vice-Chancellor of Brandon University Louis Visentin, Ph.D.

For further information contact:

Gerry Hébert
Secretary
Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission
Phone: (204) 945-8194
Toll-free: 1 (866) 926-0713
Fax: (204) 948-3260
e-mail: info@boundariescommission.mb.ca
Web: www.boundariescommission.mb.ca