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FEDERAL ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES COMMISSION FOR NOVA SCOTIA

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES READJUSTMENT ACT

Preamble

By proclamation, on April 16, 2002, a Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Nova Scotia (the Commission) was established under and by virtue of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-3 (the Act).

The Commission is composed of Dr. Ronald G. Landes and Dr. James Bickerton, both of whom have been appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Honourable William Kelly, the undersigned Chairman, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, who has been appointed by the Chief Justice of Nova Scotia.

The Commission's task is to establish, or more properly stated to readjust, the boundaries of federal electoral districts (sometimes called constituencies) in accordance with population figures established for the Province by the 2001 decennial census. The Province is now divided into eleven (11) electoral districts and that number will not change.

The 2001 decennial census established the population of Nova Scotia at 908,007. The population divided by the number of electoral districts gives an electoral quota of 82,546 persons per electoral district. The population of each electoral district must correspond as close as is reasonably possible to that electoral quota. The Act provides, however, that the Commission may deviate from that quota to take account of certain factors such as community of interest and identity, historical patterns, and manageable geographic size. Section 15 of the Act specifically directs that in establishing boundaries, the Commission be governed by the following rules:

  • (1)(a) the division of the province into electoral districts and the description of the boundaries thereof shall proceed on the basis that the population of each electoral district in the province as a result thereof shall, as close as reasonably possible, correspond to the electoral quota for the province, that is to say, the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the province as ascertained by the census by the number of members of the House of Commons to be assigned to the province as calculated by the Chief Electoral Officer under subsection 14(1); and
  • (b) the commission shall consider the following in determining reasonable electoral district boundaries:
    • (i) the community of interest or community of identity in or the historical pattern of an electoral district in the province, and
    • (ii) a manageable geographic size for districts in sparsely populated, rural or northern regions of the province.
  • (2) The commission may depart from the application of the rule set out in paragraph (1)(a) in any case where the commission considers it necessary or desirable to depart therefrom
  • (a) in order to respect the community of interest or community of identity in or the historical pattern of an electoral district in the province, or
  • (b) in order to maintain a manageable geographic size for districts in sparsely populated, rural or northern regions of the province,

but, in departing from the application of the rule set out in paragraph (1)(a), the commission shall make every effort to ensure that, except in circumstances viewed by the commission as being extraordinary, the population of each electoral district in the province remains within twenty-five per cent more or twenty-five per cent less of the electoral quota for the province.

In conjunction with the provisions of the Act, the Commission's decisions must be guided by the Constitution Act, 1982, in particular the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees Canadian citizens the right to vote in federal and provincial elections. This right has been interpreted by the Supreme Court of Canada in a manner that sets constitutional criteria for the drawing of electoral boundaries.

In what is known as "the Carter decision", released on June 6, 1991, which deals with provincial electoral boundaries in Saskatchewan, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the purpose of the right to vote, as guaranteed by section 3 of the Charter, is not equality of voting power by itself but the right to "effective representation". First and foremost, the Court ruled, "effective representation" requires "relative parity of voting power". Absolute equality of population size among electoral districts, the Court ruled, was not required. However, deviation from equality resulting in "relative parity of voting power" for the purpose of accommodating geography, community of interest or minority representation, must be "justified on the grounds that they contribute to better government of the populace as a whole". In other words, the variation from the electoral quota permitted by the Act is not a licence to be used without justification.

In implementing the guidelines of the Act and adhering to the guidelines of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Carter decision and subsequent Canadian superior court decisions, the Commission proceeded in the following manner.

The Commission first considered whether or not there were any "extraordinary circumstances" which might justify moving beyond the given ± factor of 25 percent (subsection 15(2) of the Act). Upon consideration, the Commission decided that there were clearly no such extraordinary circumstances.

The Commission's second task was to determine the need, if any, for a redrawing of federal electoral boundaries in the province, based on the official population figures for 2001. The Commission used two criteria: population variances for each electoral district and seat entitlements for each electoral district. These measures show any deviation of the population of each electoral district from the Nova Scotia electoral quota of 82,546.

The first measure of variance simply states the percentage by which an electoral district's population is either above or below the electoral quota. The second measure, that of seat entitlement, is based on an "entitlement index." An electoral district's seat entitlement is calculated by dividing the electoral district's population by the electoral quota. Both measures are presented in Schedule "A" for the current electoral districts in Nova Scotia.

Two of the current federal electoral districts, as established in 1996 on the basis of the 1991 census, substantially exceed the electoral quota of 82,546. The electoral district of Halifax West is nearly 29 percent above the electoral quota and has a seat entitlement of 1.29 and Kings—Hants is slightly more than 20 percent above the electoral quota and has a seat entitlement of 1.20. Moreover, a number of the other electoral districts show a considerable range of variance in seat entitlement scores. As a result, the Commission has concluded that some boundary changes must be made in order to meet the principal criterion of "relative parity of voting power" and the other criteria in the Act as interpreted by the courts.

In addition to considering the variance and entitlements for each current electoral district, the Commission reviewed present county seat entitlements as well. The previous Commission had grouped together contiguous counties as the basis for the drawing of the present electoral districts that were approved in 1996. In Schedule "B" the Commission presents the current seat entitlements for each county and in Schedule "C" the current seat entitlements for county groupings. County seat entitlements were calculated by dividing the population of each county by the electoral quota. A similar process was used to determine the seat entitlements for groupings of contiguous counties.

A review of the data in Schedules "A", "B" and "C" revealed two areas of special concern: Cape Breton Island and Halifax County. In 1996, Cape Breton Island was allocated two seats, but based on the 2001 population figures, it is now entitled to 1.79 seats. In Halifax County, which was allocated four seats in 1996, population growth by 2001 had increased that county's seat entitlement to 4.35. It was determined that these results indicated a need for boundary adjustments in both areas. These adjustments necessitated changes in adjacent areas. In addition, a change in the boundary line between West Nova and Kings—Hants was warranted.

Having identified potential areas for change and having rejected the need to invoke the "extraordinary circumstances" clause, the Commission's third task was to decide what variances, if any, were necessary to meet the primary objective of relative parity of voting power, while also applying the other criteria of historical patterns, community of interest, and geographical size in a consistent way. In considering justifications for variations of population in electoral districts, the Commission determined that the large rural electoral districts should be treated roughly the same because of the geographic size factor, and that the urban electoral districts in and around Halifax should have populations somewhat higher than the electoral quota because of the greater ease of representation due to population concentration.

All eleven (11) of the proposed electoral districts fall within a variance of ±10 percent or a seat entitlement of .91 to 1.1. The most populous electoral district of Halifax East, is 9.68 percent above the electoral quota and the least populous electoral district, Central Nova, is 8.95 percent below the electoral quota. In Schedule "D", the Commission presents proposed electoral districts which it believes will achieve fair and effective representation for the people of Nova Scotia.

Proposed New Electoral Districts and Names

Schedule "D" attached hereto presents the proposed eleven (11) electoral districts together with the population of each electoral district.

Schedule "E" attached hereto contains a description of the boundaries of the proposed eleven (11) electoral districts which are illustrated on the maps accompanied herewith.

If You Intend to Make a Representation to the Commission

Interested parties will have the opportunity to make representations to the Commission at advertised public hearings now scheduled at the times and places set out herein under the heading Notice of Sittings. The Commission is precluded by the Act from hearing any party desiring to make a representation who has not given notice in accordance with subsection 19(5) of the Act, which reads as follows:

  • No representation shall be heard by a commission at any sittings held by it for the hearing of representations from interested persons unless notice in writing is given to the secretary of the commission within fifty-three days after the date of the publication of the last advertisement under subsection (2), stating the name and address of the person by whom the representation is sought to be made and indicating concisely the nature of the representation and of the interest of the person.

Notices must be received no later than September 4, 2002, and should be addressed to:

  • Barbara Penick
    Commission Secretary
    Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Nova Scotia
    430-1801 Hollis Street
    Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3N4
    Telephone: (902) 426-7345
    Toll-free: 1 888 788-5004
    Facsimile: (902) 426-5311
    Toll-free: 1 866 257-6330
    E-mail: commission.ns@ns.sympatico.ca

Notices may also be submitted electronically by completing the required form on-line at www.elections.ca. Simply go to Federal Representation 2004, click on Federal Electoral Boundaries Commissions, locate the Province and then click on Public Hearings.

Notice of Sittings

The Commission is required by the Act to hold sittings to hear representations by interested parties in respect of the recommended changes in the boundaries of the electoral districts. For this purpose the Commission is scheduled to sit at the following places and times:

  • (1) SYDNEY, Cambridge Suites, 380 Esplanade, Friday, September 20, 2002, at 7:30 p.m.
  • (2) PORT HAWKESBURY, Maritime Inn, 717 Reeves Street, Saturday, September 21, 2002, at 2:00 p.m.
  • (3) STELLARTON, Museum of Industry, 147 North Ford Street, Sunday, September 22, 2002, at 2:30 p.m.
  • (4) COLE HARBOUR, Cole Harbour Place, 51 Forest Hills Parkway, Saturday, September 28, 2002, at 2:00 p.m.
  • (5) LOWER SACKVILLE, Sackville Fire Hall, Glendale at Metropolitan, Sunday, September 29, 2002, at 2:30 p.m.
  • (6) TRURO, Howard Johnson Hotel and Convention Centre, 437 Prince Street, Thursday, October 3, 2002, at 7:30 p.m.
  • (7) COLDBROOK, Wandlyn Inn, 7270 Highway 1, Friday, October 4, 2002, at 7:30 p.m.
  • (8) YARMOUTH, Rodd Colony Harbour Inn, 6 Forest Street, Saturday, October 5, 2002, at 2:00 p.m.
  • (9) BRIDGEWATER, Wandlyn Inn, 50 North Street, Thursday, October 10, 2002, at 7:30 p.m.
  • (10) HALIFAX, Citadel Halifax Hotel, 1960 Brunswick Street, Sunday, October 20, 2002, at 2:30 p.m.

Rules

The Commission has made rules for regulating its proceedings and for the conduct of its business pursuant to section 18 of the Act. These rules are set out in Schedule "F" hereto.

Dated at Halifax, this 18th day of June, 2002.

JUSTICE F. B. WILLIAM KELLY

Chairman

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission

for the Province of Nova Scotia

SCHEDULE "A"

Current Federal Electoral Districts based on the Representation Order of 1996, with population based on the 2001 census.

Electoral District Population 2001 Percentage from Electoral Quota of 82,546 Seat Entitlement
Bras d'Or—Cape Breton 70,879 -14.13 0.86
Cumberland—Colchester 81,912 -0.77 0.99
Dartmouth 82,899 +0.43 1.00
Halifax 82,518 -0.03 1.00
Halifax West 106,372 +28.86 1.29
Kings—Hants 99,379 +20.39 1.20
Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough 76,370 -7.48 0.93
Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore 87,394 +5.87 1.06
South Shore 75,545 -8.48 0.92
Sydney—Victoria 76,575 -7.23 0.93
West Nova 68,164 -17.42 0.83
Total Population 908,007   11.00

SCHEDULE "B"

2001 Census Population Figures by Nova Scotia Counties, with seat entitlements.


County

Population 2001
Seat
Entitlement
Annapolis 21,773 0.26
Antigonish 19,578 0.24
Cape Breton 109,330 1.32
Colchester 49,307 0.60
Cumberland 32,605 0.39
Digby 19,548 0.24
Guysborough 9,827 0.12
Halifax 359,183 4.35
Hants 40,513 0.49
Inverness 19,937 0.24
Kings 58,866 0.71
Lunenburg 47,591 0.58
Pictou 46,965 0.57
Queens 11,723 0.14
Richmond 10,225 0.12
Shelburne 16,231 0.20
Victoria 7,962 0.10
Yarmouth 26,843 0.32
Totals 908,007 11.00

SCHEDULE "C"

2001 Census Population Figures by Groupings of Nova Scotia Counties, with seat entitlements.

Counties Population 2001 Seat Entitlement
Cape Breton, Victoria, Inverness, Richmond 147,454 1.79
Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough 76,370 0.92
Cumberland, Colchester 81,912 0.99
Halifax 359,183 4.35
Yarmouth, Digby, Annapolis, Kings, Hants 167,543 2.03
Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg 75,545 0.92
Totals 908,007 11.00

SCHEDULE "D"

Proposed Federal Electoral Districts for the Province of Nova Scotia, with populations based on the 2001 census.

Electoral District Population 2001 Percentage from Electoral Quota of 82,546 Seat Entitlement
Cape Breton—Canso 75,171 -8.93 0.91
Central Nova 75,160 -8.95 0.91
Cumberland—Colchester 81,912 -0.77 0.99
Dartmouth—Cole Harbour 89,335 +8.22 1.08
Halifax 89,330 +8.22 1.08
Halifax East 90,540 +9.68 1.1
Halifax West 87,683 +6.22 1.06
Kings—Hants 87,105 +5.52 1.06
South Shore 75,545 -8.48 0.92
Sydney—Victoria 79,344 -3.88 0.96
West Nova 76,882 -6.86 0.93
Totals 908,007 0 11.00

SCHEDULE "E"

Proposed Boundaries and Names of Electoral Districts

There shall be in the Province of Nova Scotia eleven (11) electoral districts, named and described as set out below, each of which shall return one member.

In the following descriptions:

  • (a) reference to "street", "avenue", "road", "highway", "river", "stream", "brook", "channel", "cove", "arm", "bay", "lake", "harbour", or "railway" signifies their centre line unless otherwise described;
  • (b) wherever a word or expression is used to denote a territorial division, such word or expression shall indicate the territorial division as it existed or was bounded on March 1, 2002, with the exception of the Community of Bedford. For this community, the limits used are from the former Town of Bedford, as it existed on March 31, 1996.
  • (c) reference to "counties" for inclusion in an electoral district signifies that all cities, towns, villages and Indian reserves lying within the perimeter of the counties are included unless otherwise described;
  • (d) all offshore islands are included in the landward district unless otherwise described;
  • (e) the translation of the terms "street", "avenue" and "boulevard" follows Treasury Board standards. The translation of all other public thoroughfare designations is based on commonly used terms but has no official recognition.

The population figure of each electoral district is derived from the 2001 decennial census.

1. CAPE BRETON—CANSO

(Population: 75,171)

(Map 1)

Consisting of:

  • (a) the County of Richmond;
  • (b) that part of the County of Inverness lying southerly of Cape Breton Highlands National Park;
  • (c) that part of the County of Cape Breton lying southeasterly of a line described as follows: commencing at a point in the middle of Bras d'Or Lake; thence northeasterly along Bras d'Or Lake, East Bay, Portage Brook, Blacketts Lake and the Sydney River to Highway 125; thence easterly and northerly along Highway 125 to Grand Lake Road; thence northeasterly along said road to Northwest Brook (south of Grand Lake); thence generally northeasterly along said brook to Grand Lake and the DEVCO Railway spanning said lake; thence northeasterly along said railway and its northern branch towards Scotchtown to Northwest Brook (north of Grand Lake); thence generally northerly along Northwest Brook, Lingan Bay and Indian Bay to the Gulf of St. Lawrence; and
  • (d) the County of Guysborough excluding that part of the County that is in the Municipality of the District of St. Mary's and that part of the County that is part of the Municipality of the County of Antigonish.

2. CENTRAL NOVA

(Population: 75,160)

(Map 1)

Consisting of:

  • (a) the counties of Pictou and Antigonish;
  • (b) that part of the County of Guysborough comprised of the Municipality of the District of St. Mary's and that part of the Municipality of the County of Antigonish contained in the County of Guysborough; and
  • (c) that part of the County of Halifax lying easterly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the limit between the counties of Colchester and Halifax with the line of longitude 63°08'28" W; thence southeasterly in a straight line for approximately 8.8 km to the intersection of Higginsville Road and Brown's Branch Road; thence southeasterly in a straight line for approximately 4.1 km to a point in Halifax County at latitude 45°00'07" N and longitude 63°04'03" W; thence southerly in a straight line for approximately 1.9 km to the northernmost extremity of Little River Lake; thence southerly in a straight line for approximately 6.4 km to the northwesternmost extremity of Ship Harbour Long Lake; thence generally southerly along Ship Harbour Long Lake, Lake Charlotte, Little Lake, Oyster Pond, Jeddore Harbour to a point in the Atlantic Ocean at latitude 44°37'30" N and longitude 63°00'00" W.

3. CUMBERLAND—COLCHESTER

(Population: 81,912)

(Map 1)

Consisting of the counties of Cumberland and Colchester.

4. DARTMOUTH—COLE HARBOUR

(Population: 89,335)

(Map 2)

Consisting of that part of the County of Halifax described as follows: commencing at the intersection of Windmill Road and Albro Lake Road; thence northeasterly along Albro Lake Road to Lancaster Drive; thence southeasterly along said drive to Woodland Avenue; thence northerly along said avenue and Highway 118 (Lakeview Drive) to the Highway 107 overpass; thence northeasterly and southeasterly along Highway 107 (Forest Hills Parkway) to Highway 7 (Main Street); thence easterly along said highway to Ross Road; thence southerly along said road to Highway 207; thence easterly along Highway 207 to the Little Salmon River; thence generally southerly along said river into Cole Harbour; thence generally southeasterly along Cole Harbour, and the Atlantic Ocean to a point at latitude 44°35'00" N and longitude 63°22'00" W; thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point in Halifax Harbour at latitude 44°32'00" N and longitude 63°29'00" W; thence generally northwesterly along Halifax Harbour (passing on the west of McNabs Island and the east of Georges Island) to a point in Halifax Harbour at latitude 44°40'11" N and longitude 63°35'40" W; thence northeasterly in a straight line to the point of commencement.

5. HALIFAX

(Population: 89,330)

(Map 2)

Consisting of:

  • (a) that part of the County of Halifax described as follows: commencing at the intersection of Dunbrack Street with Main Avenue; thence northeasterly along said avenue to Bedford Highway (Highway 2); thence northwesterly along said highway to Kempt Road; thence northwesterly in a straight line to the southernmost extremity of Fairview Cove in Bedford Basin; thence northerly to a point in the Bedford Basin at latitude 44°41'26" N and longitude 63°37'53" W; thence southeasterly along the Bedford Basin, the Narrows and Halifax Harbour (passing on the east of Georges Island and the west of McNabs Island) to a point at latitude 44°34'36" N and longitude 63°31'08" W; thence westerly in a straight line to the intersection of Purcells Cove Road (Highway 253) and Holy Stone On The Sea Road; thence southwesterly in a straight line to the northernmost extremity of Powers Pond; thence generally northwesterly and southerly along Powers Pond, the stream connecting Powers Pond with The Neck and Gully, The Neck and Gully, West Pine Island Pond, the stream connecting West Pine Island Pond and Long Pond, Long Pond to the southernmost extremity of Long Pond; thence southwesterly in a straight line for approximately 1.5 km to the northeasternmost extremity of Governors Lake; thence generally northwesterly along the north shore of said lake to Fish Brook; thence along Fish Brook to Old Sambro Road (Highway 306); thence northerly along said road to Prospect Brother Road; thence northerly in a straight line for approximately 0.8 km to the mouth of an unnamed stream running into Long Lake (near the southwestern limit of Long Lake Regional Park); thence northwesterly along said lake to its northwesternmost extremity; thence northwesterly in a straight line to the intersection of Saint Margaret's Bay Road (Highway 3) and Prospect Road; thence northwesterly along Saint Margaret's Bay Road (Highway 3) to Highway 103; thence northeasterly along said highway to Bicentennial Drive (Highway 102); thence easterly along said drive to Dunbrack Street; thence generally northwesterly along said street to the point of commencement; and
  • (b) Sable Island.

6. HALIFAX EAST

(Population: 90,540)

(Map 2)

Consisting of:

  • (a) that part of the County of Halifax described as follows: commencing at a point in the Atlantic Ocean at latitude 44°35'00" N and longitude 63°22'00" W; thence generally northwesterly in the Atlantic Ocean and through the mouth of Cole Harbour and along Cole Harbour to Little Salmon River; thence generally northerly along said river to Highway 207; thence westerly along said highway to Ross Road; thence northerly along said road to Highway 7; thence westerly along said highway to Highway 107 (Forest Hills Parkway); thence northwesterly and southwesterly along said highway to the overpass over Highway 118; thence generally southerly along said highway, Lakeview Drive, and Woodland Avenue to Lancaster Drive; thence northwesterly along said drive to Albro Lake Road; thence southwesterly along said road to Windmill Road; thence southwesterly in a straight line to a point in Halifax Harbour at latitude 44°40'11" N and longitude 63°35'40" W; thence northwesterly along said harbour to a point in the Bedford Basin at latitude 44°41'26" N and longitude 63°37'53" W; thence northeasterly in a straight line to Wrights Brook; thence generally northerly along said brook to the Canadian National Railway; thence northeasterly along said railway to the northeasterly limit of the former Town of Bedford (as it existed on March 31, 1996); thence generally northwesterly along the various courses of the northeastern limit of said town to the Sackville River; thence generally northwesterly along the Sackville River to the southwestern projection of the Beaverbank Connector; thence northeasterly along the southwestern projection of Beaverbank Connector to Highway 101; thence northwesterly along said highway to the limit between the counties of Halifax and Hants; thence generally northeasterly along said limit to the southwestern limit of Colchester County; thence southerly and northeasterly along said limit to the intersection of said limit and the line of longitude 63°08'28" W; thence southeasterly in a straight line for approximately 8.8 km to the intersection of Higginsville Road and Brown's Branch Road; thence southeasterly in a straight line for approximately 4.1 km to a point in Halifax County at latitude 45°00'07" N and longitude 63°04'03" W; thence southwesterly in a straight line for approximately 1.9 km to the northernmost extremity of Little River Lake; thence southerly in a straight line for approximately 6.4 km to the northwesternmost extremity of Ship Harbour Long Lake; thence generally southerly along Ship Harbour Long Lake, Lake Charlotte, Little Lake, Oyster Pond and Jeddore Harbour to a point in the Atlantic Ocean at latitude 44°37'30" N and longitude 63°00'00" W; thence southeasterly in a straight line for approximately 33 km to the point of commencement; and
  • (b) that part of the County of Hants described as follows: commencing at the intersection of Highway 102 with Nine Mile River; thence generally southerly along said river to the County of Hants limit in Shubenacadie River; thence generally southwesterly along said river and county limit to their intersection with Highway 102; thence generally northeasterly along said highway to the point of commencement.

7. HALIFAX WEST

(Population: 87,683)

(Map 2)

Consisting of that part of the County of Halifax lying westerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the limit between the counties of Halifax and Hants with Highway 101; thence southeasterly along said highway to the Beaverbank Connector; thence southwesterly along the southwestern projection of the Beaverbank Connector to the Sackville River; thence generally southeasterly along said river to the northeastern limit of the former Town of Bedford (as it existed on March 31, 1996); thence generally southeasterly along the various courses of the northeastern limit of said town to the Canadian National Railway; thence southwesterly along said railway to Wrights Brook; thence generally southerly along said brook into Wrights Cove and the Bedford Basin; thence southwesterly to a point in the Bedford Basin at latitude 44°41'26" N and longitude 63°37'53" W; thence southerly to the southernmost extremity of Fairview Cove; thence southerly in a straight line to the intersection of the Bedford Highway (Highway 2) with Kempt Road; thence southeasterly along said highway to Main Avenue; thence southwesterly along said avenue to Dunbrack Street; thence generally southeasterly along said street to Bicentennial Drive (Highway 102); thence westerly along said drive to Highway 103; thence southwesterly along said highway to Saint Margaret's Bay Road (Highway 3); thence southeasterly along said road to Prospect Road; thence southeasterly in a straight line to the northwestern extremity of Long Lake; thence southeasterly along said lake to the mouth of an unnamed stream running into Long Lake (near the southwestern limit of Long Lake Regional Park); thence southerly in a straight line to Old Sambro Road (Highway 306) at Prospect Brother Road; thence southerly along Old Sambro Road (Highway 306) to Fish Brook; thence generally southeasterly along said brook and the north shore of Governors Lake to the northeasternmost extremity of said lake; thence northeasterly in a straight line for approximately 1.5 km to the most southernmost extremity of Long Pond; thence generally northerly and southeasterly along Long Pond, the stream connecting Long Pond and West Pine Island Pond, West Pine Island Pond, The Neck and Gully, Powers Pond to the northernmost extremity of Powers Pond; thence northeasterly in a straight line to the intersection of Purcells Cove Road (Highway 253) and Holy Stone On The Sea Road; thence easterly in a straight line to a point in Halifax Harbour at latitude 44°34'36" N and longitude 63°31'08" W; thence generally southeasterly along said harbour to the Atlantic Ocean.

8. KINGS—HANTS

(Population: 87,105)

(Map 1)

Consisting of:

  • (a) that part of the County of Kings lying easterly and southerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the mouth of Kirk Brook at the Bay of Fundy; thence generally easterly along Kirk Brook to French Cross Road; thence southerly along said road and Clairmont Road to Highway 1; thence northeasterly along said highway to Highway 201; thence southeasterly along said highway to Hall Road; thence easterly along said road for approximately 60 metres to an unnamed and unclassified road; thence southeasterly along said unnamed and unclassified road to Harmony Road; thence northeasterly along said road to Palmer Road; thence southeasterly along the southeastern projection of Palmer Road for 3.5 km to a point at approximate latitude 44°56'16" N and approximate longitude 64°49'10" W; thence southwesterly in a straight line to the intersection of the western limit of the County of Kings and the line of latitude 44°54'08" N; and
  • (b) the County of Hants, excepting: that part of the County of Hants described as follows: commencing at the intersection of Highway 102 with Nine Mile River; thence generally southerly along said river to the County of Hants limit in Shubenacadie River; thence generally southwesterly along said river and county limit to their intersection with Highway 102; thence generally northeasterly along said highway to the point of commencement.

9. SOUTH SHORE

(Population: 75,545)

(Map 1)

Consisting of the counties of Shelburne, Queens and Lunenburg.

10. SYDNEY—VICTORIA

(Population: 79,344)

(Map 1)

Consisting of:

  • (a) the County of Victoria;
  • (b) that part of the County of Inverness lying northerly of the southern boundary of Cape Breton Highlands National Park; and
  • (c) that part of the County of Cape Breton lying northwesterly of a line described as follows: commencing at a point in the middle of Bras d'Or Lake; thence northeasterly along Bras d'Or Lake, East Bay, Portage Brook, Blacketts Lake and the Sydney River to Highway 125; thence easterly and northerly along Highway 125 to Grand Lake Road; thence northeasterly along said road to Northwest Brook (south of Grand Lake); thence generally northeasterly along said brook to Grand Lake and the DEVCO Railway spanning said lake; thence northeasterly along said railway and its northern branch towards Scotchtown to Northwest Brook (north of Grand Lake); thence generally northerly along Northwest Brook, Lingan Bay and Indian Bay to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

11. WEST NOVA

(Population: 76,882)

(Map 1)

Consisting of:

  • (a) the counties of Yarmouth, Digby and Annapolis; and
  • (b) that part of the County of Kings lying westerly and northerly of a line described as follows: commencing at the mouth of Kirk Brook at the Bay of Fundy; thence generally easterly along Kirk Brook to French Cross Road; thence southerly along said road and Clairmont Road to Highway 1; thence northeasterly along said highway to Highway 201; thence southeasterly along said highway to Hall Road; thence easterly along said road for approximately 60 metres to an unnamed and unclassified road; thence southeasterly along said unnamed and unclassified road to Harmony Road; thence northeasterly along said road to Palmer Road; thence southeasterly along the southeastern projection of Palmer Road for 3.5 km to a point at approximate latitude 44°56'16" N and approximate longitude 64°49'10" W; thence southwesterly in a straight line to the intersection of the western limit of the County of Kings and the line of latitude 44°54'08" N.

SCHEDULE "F"

RULES

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Nova Scotia

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Nova Scotia makes the following rules under and by virtue of section 18 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-3.

1. These rules may be cited as the "Rules of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Nova Scotia, 2002".

2. In these rules:

  • (a) "Act" means the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-3;
  • (b) "advertisement" means a notice or notices published as directed in subsection 19(2) of the said Act setting forth the places and the times when the sittings shall be held for the hearing of representations;
  • (c) "chairman" includes the deputy chairman;
  • (d) "Commission" means the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Nova Scotia established by proclamation of April 16, 2002;
  • (e) "notice" means a written expression of intention to make a representation in compliance with subsection 19(5) of the Act ("...within fifty-three days from the date of the publication of the...advertisement...");
  • (f) "representation" means any expression of opinion presented at a duly convened sitting of the Commission relating to the division of the Province of Nova Scotia into electoral districts and the names and boundaries of each such electoral district, as proposed by the Commission;
  • (g) "secretary" means the Secretary to the Commission;
  • (h) "sitting" means a public hearing convened by the Commission in accordance with and for the purposes set out in section 19 of the Act.

3. Unless the Commission decides otherwise, only one person or a designated spokesperson shall be heard in the presentation of a representation at a sitting.

4. A person giving notice shall state therein at which of the places designated in the advertisement such person wishes to make representation, the official language in which it is to be made, and special needs they may have.

5. If a person giving notice fails to comply with the provisions of Rule 4, the secretary shall ascertain from such person the place at which such person wishes to appear to make a representation and the official language in which it is to be made.

6. Rules 4 and 5 are made for administrative purposes only and do not operate to prevent a person who has given notice from making the representation at any place of sitting of the Commission set out in the advertisement, subject only to the power of the Commission, pursuant to Rule 7, to cancel a sitting at any place if it appears that no one will make a representation at the sitting at that place.

7. If it appears to the Commission that no one will make a representation at any place designated by the advertisement as a place of sitting, the Commission may cancel the sitting at such place.

8. Two members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the holding of a sitting.

9. If a quorum cannot be present at a sitting, the Commission may provide for the hearing of representation by one member of the Commission pursuant to section 18 of the Act, or may postpone the sitting to a later date.

10. The secretary shall inform any person who has given notice, but has not been heard, of a postponement. Public advertisement of a postponement may also be given by the chairman or the Commission by such means as he or it considers adequate.

11. When the hearing of a representation cannot be completed within the time allotted, the Commission may adjourn the sitting to a later date at the same or another place.

12. The Commission will consider any written submissions made in compliance with these rules and the Act, and will make public such submissions at one or more of the sittings.

13. The Commission shall have the power to waive any procedural requirement where the Commission deems there to be a defect in form and not in substance.

NOVA SCOTIA (MAP 1) - PROPOSALS
NOVA SCOTIA (MAP 1) - PROPOSALS
COUNTY OF HALIFAX (MAP 2) - PROPOSALS
COUNTY OF HALIFAX (MAP 2) - PROPOSALS

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