There were plenty of submissions Tuesday night at the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission hearing in Nelson.

 

25 people registered to speak about the proposal to bump Nelson and other nearby communities into the Kootenay-Columbia riding and yet have Kaslo and area move across to a new South Okanagan-West Kootenay contituency.

 

Ahead of the hearing rural director Andy Shadrack says for one thing the current rural nature of the existing Southern Interior riding would be upset by the inclusion of the large Okanagan community of Penticton which he says would amount to 30% of the riding's population.

 

Shadrack also argues the government Act dictates geographic and economic ties can't be tampered with.

 

Nelson mayor John Dooley says federally funded projects requiring traditional West Kootenay collaboration would be impacted. He hopes the Commission listens to concerns about the loss of regional community collaboration, the sheer size of the riding and winter driving challenges.

 

A second public hearing goes at Castlegar's Fireside Inn at 7pm Wednesday.