Electoral Boundaries Commission Established
The legislative chamber at Province House (Province of Nova Scotia / File)
A commission to review and provide recommendations on electoral boundaries to provide effective representation of the Acadian region of Chéticamp and area has been established.
The Select Committee on Establishing an Electoral Boundaries Commission filed its report with the clerk’s office at the legislature in Halifax today, April 25. It includes the terms of reference for the commission and lists the commission members:
- Kenneth Deveau, Chair, Comeauville, Digby County
- Mark Bannerman, Hammonds Plains, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Glenn Graham, Southside Harbour, Antigonish County
- Gwen LeBlanc, Wedgeport, Yarmouth County
- Martin Chaisson, Chéticamp, Inverness County
- Armand Paul, Sydney, Cape Breton Regional Municipality
- Jason MacLean, Middle Sackville, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Natalie Robichaud, New Edinburgh, Digby County
- Rohini Bannerjee, Halifax, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Jill Houlihan, Halifax, Halifax Regional Municipality (alternate).
The electoral boundaries commission must submit an interim report by August 29 and its final report by January 30, 2026. The commission has the option to ask for a limited deadline extension on the final report.
The commission will hold public hearings before preparing its interim report and again before preparing its final report. The commission will also receive written submissions.
Quick Facts:
- the commission was required to be established under legislation passed during the February/March sitting of the legislature
- the commission responds to a court decision that said the House of Assembly’s decision to accept the recommendation of the previous electoral boundaries commission not to declare Chéticamp an exceptional electoral district contravened the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Additional Resources:
The select committee’s report is at: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/committees/reports/el_2025_final_en.pdf
News release – Province to Appoint Special Electoral Boundaries Commission for Chéticamp: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/02/18/province-appoint-special-electoral-boundaries-commission-cheticamp