Municipal Boundary Review

Consultation has concluded

The Municipal Government Act requires all Councils in Nova Scotia to conduct a Municipal Governance & Electoral Boundary Review every eight years. This process, including the final decision on any recommendations that result from the Review, is directed by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB). Any changes that result from the Review will not come into effect until the 2024 Municipal Election.

Representation is essential to how municipal government functions, with councillors elected from polling districts to serve the interests of those specific areas as well as the Municipality as a whole. In a way, the Review provides a local democracy “health check” of Council’s governance structure, the number and boundaries of polling districts, and the number of councillors representing those polling districts. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the voting power of electors is effective, fair, and representative.

Municipal staff are conducting the Review and will prepare a study that considers relevant data, Council’s recommendations, and feedback from residents during a community consultation process. After the study is completed, the Municipality must submit an application to the NSUARB by December 31, 2022 with a recommendation and rationale for confirming or changing the number of councillors and the boundaries of polling districts. The NSUARB will then hold a public hearing to allow members of the public to comment before making a decision on the application.

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Proposed Adjustments to Boundaries

over 1 year ago

PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS TO ELECTORAL DISTRICTS

The NSUARB “must consider several factors in determining the number and boundaries of polling districts, including the number of electors, relative parity of voting power, population density, community of interest and geographic size” (Municipal Boundaries User Guide).

Of note, the NSUARB states that the target variance for relative parity of voting power among polling districts must be +/- 10% from the average number of electors per polling district.

As outlined in Table 2: Review of Number of Electors (below), the current number of electors (as of June 3, 2022) in Polling District 2 is 1,483, which is 13.21% above the polling district average of 1,310 electors for the seven (7) districts in the Municipality of Chester. In order to meet the NSUARB’s target variance in voting power, the proposed adjustments to the boundaries of Polling Districts 1, 2, and 3 are outlined below:

The first adjustment moves the boundary between District 1 and 2 east along Highway 3, following natural features.
This adjusted boundary line stretches from the outflow of Timber Lake to Officers Camp Lake, then southeast to the outflow of Noonan Lake, then South to an unset point that is part of the current Polling District boundary line. (See inset 2.)
This adjustment reduces Polling District 2 by 63 electors, resulting a total of 1420 electors (down from 1483), which brings District 2 to +8.40% of the Polling District average of 1,310 electors.
This first adjustment increases the number of electors in District 1 to 1,482, which is over +10% from the polling district average, so a second adjustment is required.
The second adjustment moves the boundary between District 1 and 3 northeast.
This adjusted boundary line stretches from the outflow from Spectacle Lake as the starting point, then southeast to the intersection of Old Trunk 3 and Birch Street, then southeast to the intersection of Highway 3 and Chester Shore Road, then southeast to an unset point in the ocean where the original council district boundary is located. (See Inset 1.)
This adjustment reduces Polling District 1 by 77 electors, resulting a total of 1,405 electors or +7.25% of the Polling District average.
This adjustment also means that District 3 gains 77 voters, resulting in 1,283 electors or -2.06% of the Polling District average.

A map of these proposed adjustments to the Municipality's Polling District Boundaries is available here: https://www.voicesandchoices.ca/32125/widgets/131050/documents/88306

Table 3: Adjusted Boundaries & Number of Electors (below) outlines the net change in the number of electors in Districts 1, 2, and 3 following the proposed adjustments to polling district boundaries. The result is that the boundary adjustments ensure the Municipality of Chester meets NSUARB’s target variance for relative parity of voting power among polling districts of +/- 10% from the average number of electors per polling district.

TABLE 3: ADJUSTED BOUNDARIES & NUMBER OF ELECTORS

Polling District	Number of Electors per District as of June 2022	2022 Electors per District as % Variation from the District Average	Electors per District After Adjustments	Electors per District as % Variation from the District Average After Adjustments	Net Change in Electors per District – Adjustments vs. Current
1	1,419	8.32%	1,405	7.25%	-14 electors
2	1,483	13.21%	1,420	8.40%	-63 electors
3	1,206	-7.94%	1,283	-2.06%	+77 electors
4	1,196	-8.70%	1,196	-8.70%	No change
5	1,381	5.42%	1,381	5.42%	No change
6	1,295	-1.15%	1,295	-1.15%	No change
7	1,194	-8.85%	1,194	-8.85%	No change
Total	9,174		9,174
Average	1,310		1,310