Select Committee to Hold Public Meetings

An all-party select committee of the Nova Scotia legislature is seeking public input on the terms of reference for a Provincial Electoral Boundaries Commission. The commission will review the province's electoral boundaries.

"Our role in this process is to ensure that Nova Scotians have a say in the make-up of the commission and what it will review," said Michael Baker, chair of the Select Committee on Establishing an Electoral Boundaries Commission. "This select committee does not determine the redistribution of boundaries, that's the responsibility of the commission."

A series of public meetings will be held throughout the province over the next two weeks.

"The input of Nova Scotians is very important to this process," said Mr. Baker. "We encourage as many people as possible to attend a meeting and share their views on what the commission should focus on."

The select committee will meet in the following areas:

• Nov. 13 -- Sydney: Mariner C, Delta Sydney, 300 Esplanade St.
• Nov. 14 -- Port Hawkesbury: Canso Room, Maritime Inn, 717
  Reeves St.
• Nov. 19 -- Yarmouth: Maple Room, Rodd Colony Harbour Inn,
  6 Forest St.
• Nov. 20 -- Truro: Gymnasium, Agritech Park, Nova Scotia Agricultural College Conference Centre, 90 Research Dr.,
  Bible Hill
• Nov. 22 -- Halifax: Red Chamber, Province House, 1726 Hollis
  St.

All meetings will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., with evening sessions beginning at 7 p.m.

Individuals and organizations wishing to present views to the committee are asked to call the toll-free line at 1-888-388-6489 in advance. Nova Scotians may also express their views on the same toll-free line.

Written submissions can be presented in person at a public meeting or by any of the following options:

• fax to 1-902-424-0513
• e-mail to [email protected]
• online at:
  www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/committees/e_boundaries.html
• mail to:
  Select Committee on Establishing an Electoral Boundaries
  Commission
  c/o Legislative Committees Office
  3rd Floor, Dennis Building, 1740 Granville St.
  P.O. Box 2630
  Station M, Halifax, N.S.
  B3J 3N5

All submissions should be received by noon on Friday, Nov. 23.

The Select Committee on Establishing an Electoral Boundaries Commission will report to the House of Assembly by Friday, Nov. 30.

Mr. Baker is joined on the committee by MLAs Neil LeBlanc, Jane Purves, Rodney MacDonald, Brooke Taylor, Frank Corbett, Howard Epstein, Paul MacEwan and Manning MacDonald.

Every 10 years, a select committee is established to develop guidelines for the Provincial Electoral Boundaries Commission. The last review was conducted in 1992.