Acadians looking to maintain culture with new electoral boundaries
Nicole Williams | CBC News | Posted: May 18, 2017 8:00 PM | Last Updated: May 18, 2017
New electoral boundaries include 275 mostly English speaking voters in predominant Acadian district
People who live in one of the Island's Acadian communities, Evangeline-Miscouche, are speaking out after a rezoning of their district, which now includes an additional 275 new voters, most of them English speaking.
District 24 was extended north and east to include the communities of Linkletter, Harmony, Victoria West and Springhill.
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These new boundaries have some members of the Acadian community of Evangeline-Miscouche concerned about maintaining their culture.
"I'm a little disappointed," said chair of the community council in Wellington, P.E.I., Alcide Bernard. "They didn't go very far in preserving the possibility that an Acadian would be elected in the house."
The number of electors per riding in P.E.I. can't be 25 per cent lower or higher than the average for other electoral districts.
Before, the number of voters in Évangéline-Miscouche were too low before rezoning but are now in line with the provincial average.
The district however, is still 775 electors below the average provincewide — the greatest variance.
Nova Scotia ruling
Bernard said he understands why the lines were redrawn but hopes to come up with an alternate solution for any future rezoning.
"Look at what has happened in Nova Scotia and other places and find a way unique way for P.E.I. to always have an Acadian presence in the house," he said.
Nova Scotia's court of appeal ruled that a 2012 redrawing of protected communities on the electoral map took away from Acadian voices and culture in the province.
Bernard said he's not sure if P.E.I. should follow Nova Scotia's example, but is hoping the community of Evangeline-Miscouche will come together for the time being to preserve Acadian culture.
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