|
The Electoral Boundaries Act provides that within 90 days following the third general election after the Act became law in 1994 (general election of September 29, 2003) an Electoral Boundaries Commission must be established to make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly on the area, boundaries and the names of the 27 electoral districts which were initially established under the Act.
Section 8 of the Act specifically establishes the membership of the Committee at three persons. The chair is appointed by Executive Council and he or she must be a Supreme Court Judge or a retired Supreme Court Judge. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly appoints the remaining two members, one of whom is nominated by the Premier and the other by the Leader of the Opposition. Under its mandate the Commission must report their recommendations to the Speaker who must lay the Commission's report before the Legislative Assembly - immediately, if the assembly is sitting at the time of the delivery of the report and, if it is not sitting, within seven days of the Assembly commencing its next session.
The Prince Edward Island Electoral Boundaries Commission was established by Executive Council on December 23, 2003. On May 18, 2004 the term of the commission was extended to October 5, 2004.
In February and March 2004 the Commission held 13 public meetings across the province where a number of submissions were presented.
The Commission released an interim report on June 30, 2004. Four public hearings were held in September.
The Commission submitted its final report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on October 5, 2004.