The RM of West Interlake will be creating a third ward in its municipal boundaries in order to meet requirements of the Municipal Act.

At its meeting Tuesday, West Interlake council passed a by-law to split Ward 2, formerly the RM of Siglunes, into two new wards. The municipality will now have three wards with two councillors representing each.

The RM of West Interlake is made up of the former RM of Siglunes and the former RM of Eriksdale. After amalgamation in January 2015, Eriksdale became Ward 1 in the new municipality and Siglunes became Ward 2. Each ward was represented by three councillors.

According to population data provided by RM of West Interlake Reeve Randy Helgason, prior to the passing of the new by-law, Ward 1 had 860 people and Ward 2 had 1,360.

“What we're doing is following the Municipal Act in which it states each ward has to be represented by population according to councillors,” says Helgason. “Ward 2 (wasn't) represented according to their population.”

“It now meets all the criteria as laid out in the Municipal Act.”

The new ward boundaries are now open to public review and letters of opposition can be sent to the Municipal Board, which can hold a public hearing on the matter at its discretion if more than 25 complaints come in.

“Now that it's been given third reading and passed then it's the public's right to oppose it, if they wish,” Helgason explains. “But Municipal Affairs looked at our proposal and our figures and they had no issue with it. They seemed to agree with our figures and rationale.”

“We'll see what happens from here if there is opposition to it, and what the Municipal Board's decision will be.”

Helgason adds: As part of the grounds for amalgamation of the former RM of Eriksdale and former RM of Siglunes, it was legislated by the previous NDP provincial government that there be three councillors in each ward and a Reeve elected at large, despite a proposal from the former RM of Siglunes to have four councillors in Ward 2 (Siglunes) and three in Ward 1 (Eriksdale).

“I guess it's fair to say they didn't follow the Municipal Act in the amalgamation agreement,” he says.