Acadians looking to maintain culture with new electoral boundaries

People who live in one of the Island's Acadian communities,Evangeline-Miscouche, are speaking out after a rezoning of their district, which now includes an additional275 new voters,most of them English speaking.

District 24 was extended north and east to include the communities of Linkletter, Harmony, Victoria West and Springhill.

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These new boundaries have some members of the Acadian community of Evangeline-Miscoucheconcerned about maintaining their culture.

"I'm a little disappointed," said chair of the community council in Wellington, P.E.I.,AlcideBernard."They didn't go very far in preserving the possibility that an Acadian would be elected in the house."

The number of electors per riding in P.E.I. can't be 25 per cent lower or higher than the average for other electoral districts.

Before, the number of voters in vangline-Miscouche weretoo low before rezoning but are nowin line with the provincial average.

The district however, is still 775 electors below the average provincewide the greatest variance.

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Nova Scotia ruling

Bernard saidhe understands why the lines were redrawn but hopes to come up with an alternate solution for any future rezoning.

"Look at what has happenedinNova Scotia and other places and find a way unique way for P.E.I.to always have an Acadian presence in the house," he said.

Nova Scotia's court of appeal ruled that a 2012redrawingof protected communitiesonthe electoral map took away from Acadian voices and culture in the province.

Bernard said he's not sure if P.E.I. should follow Nova Scotia's example, but is hoping the community of Evangeline-Miscouche will come together for the time being to preserve Acadian culture.

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