Kelowna

The City of Kelowna is expected to speak out against changes to federal electoral boundaries in the Central Okanagan.

Councillor Gail Given asked that staff ensure it is on the list to make presentation to the boundary re-alignment committee after learning it was being recommended that a portion of Kelowna be moved to a new riding.

"It will have significant impacts on our city," says Given.

Under the re-alignment proposal, a portion of Kelowna from approximately the lake to Spall and Royal Avenue to Broadway Avenue, would become part of the new Central Okanagan-Coquihalla riding.

That riding would also include Princeton, Merritt, Summerland, Peachland, West Kelowna and a portion of Penticton.

"It's folly to believe the downtown part of Kelowna should actually be included in part of the newly gerrymandered riding that identifies with the other side of the lake including such small places as Princeton," says Mayor, Walter Gray.

"You would have two major local governments in that riding which would be Kelowna and West Kelowna."

Gray says MP Ron Cannan, who represents Kelowna-Lake Country, agrees the re-alignment needs to be re-examined.

"There are a lot of illogical things," added Gray.

He's (Cannan) doing some research. He and I have talked."

Re-alignment public hearings will be held in Kelowna October 10.