‘Out of Frankenstein’s Lab’: Port Coquitlam mayor unhappy with proposed federal electoral district

A proposed new electoral riding isn’t sitting well with one mayor in Metro Vancouver.

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West calls the proposed riding combining his city’s south side with Pitt Meadows, part of Maple Ridge, and Fort Langley “something out of Frankenstein’s Lab.”

“I really wondered whether they know anything about our city or have ever even visited our city,” he said. “Just makes no sense whatsoever. From my perspective, it divides our community … which historically has had some divisions between the north side and the south side and we’ve worked really hard to overcome those.

West believes the change would “dilute the voice” of residents on federal issues.

The electoral boundary commissions are reworking the ridings as they add four new seats in the next federal election– one of which coming to B.C.

Below is a map of the current Coquitlam – Port Coquitlam riding:

The current Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam map (Courtesy Elections Canada)

West also worries Port Coquitlam residents will need to make the commute out to Langley to visit an M.P. office to access federal services.

“I really do think that they need to go back to the drawing board on this one, because it doesn’t make a lot of sense at all,” he said.

“The reality is that Port Coquitlam and Langley … are two very different places. One’s north of the Fraser, one south of the Fraser. The transportation challenges, although they exist in both communities, are very different. And I think the needs are probably different in these communities.”

The commissions have also proposed a new boundary combining New Westminster with Surrey’s Bridgeview neighbourhood.

The new maps aren’t scheduled to go into effect until 2024.