Federal electoral districts redistribution 2022

Rules

The Commission makes the following rules in accordance with section 18 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-3.

  1. These rules may be referenced as the "Rules of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Nova Scotia, 2022".
  2. In these Rules:
    1. "Act" means the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. E-3;
    2. "advertisement" means a notice or notices published as directed in subsection 19(2) of the Act setting forth the places and the times when the sittings shall be held for the hearing of representations;
    3. "chairperson" includes the deputy chairperson;
    4. "Commission" means the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Nova Scotia established by Order in Council of November 1, 2021;
    5. "notice" means a written expression of intention to make a representation in compliance with subsection 19(5) of the Act ("within 23 days after the date of the publication of the advertisement");
    6. "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 electoral district, as proposed by the Commission;
    7. "Secretary" means the Secretary to the Commission;
    8. "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 they wish to make a representation, their contact information, the official language in which they will present and any accommodation needs they may have.
  5. If a person giving notice fails to comply with the provisions of rule 4, the Secretary shall attempt to 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. For this reason, it is essential to provide contact information in the notice.
  6. If it appears to the Commission that no one requests to make a representation at a place designated by the advertisement as a place of sitting, the Commission may cancel the sitting at such place.
  7. In the event that multiple notices are received requesting to provide representations at a given sitting, the Commission may, in its discretion, set time limits on the length of each presentation. The Secretary will advise persons who have provided notice, in advance of the sitting, of any time limits set by the Commission.
  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 representations 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 chairperson or the Commission by such means as the chairperson 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 received at the Commission's office prior to May 23, 2022.
  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.
  14. The Commission will require all persons in attendance at sittings to adhere to all public health directives which may be in place at that time.

Given the pandemic situation and the increased expectation from the public with regard to online services, the Nova Scotia Commission will hold a virtual public hearing. In addition to the principles applied for in-person public hearings, the following procedures and requirements will apply for virtual public hearings:

  1. The link to the virtual public hearing is not public and is only shared with participants or observers who have registered with the Commission and to members of the media.
  2. A moderator will manage the agenda, speaking time and microphones of the participants.
  3. Participants will have the option to share their screen.
  4. The use of a headset by presenters is recommended.
  5. The video feed from the presenters is optional and they may simply participate by phone.