Current electoral boundaries on the left and proposed boundaries on the rightThe Town of Niverville may be voting alongside Sprague in the next provincial election.

Manitoba’s Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission has released it’s interim report on proposed changes to the provinces electoral map. A number of those changes would directly affect southeastern Manitoba including the creation of the Springfield-Ste. Anne riding which would be made up of the north half of the current La Verendrye Riding and the east half of the current Dawson Trail riding.

Not only would the northern half of the La Verendrye riding join Springfield-Ste. Anne, the proposed changes would also see La Verendrye being renamed Sandilands and expanded northwest to include Niverville and Kleefeld.

Niverville Mayor Myron Dyck says council has already reached out to their chamber of commerce, business leaders, and residents for input on these proposed changes.

"Niverville has always seen itself as more urban and directly tied to the City of Winnipeg. We are a member of the capital region with a group of 18 municipalities so at first glance it could be seen that now perhaps we are in more of a rural riding whereas before we were in with Le Salle and Headingly and some of those others that we see on a regular basis at our capital region meetings."

Niverville is currently in the Morris riding. Dyck says they are still assessing the pros and cons and looking at how these changes would affect the community.

"It is supposed to be based on population and so to move Niverville’s 5,000 up, down, or sideways we can appreciate the work that would have been done on their part to do what they felt was best for Niverville but also how that fits into the rest of southern Manitoba. We understand it, we just want to ensure ‘is this what is best for our residents or should we be advocating for something we believe to be better?’"

Dyck says council has spoken with their current MLA Shannon Martin to get an understanding of how to appeal these proposals if they choose to make objections.

The boundaries of the Steinbach riding will also shrink again because of population growth. And, Ritchot, Tache, and De Salaberry have been grouped together into a riding called Carillon which replaces Dawson Trail.

Residents and municipalities will have a chance to provide feedback and express concerns at a number of public hearings scheduled for September including a hearing in Steinbach on September 18, 2018.

To view the proposed changes in detail and provide feedback click here.