Mr. Josiah Wood

Electoral Boundary Commission Chairman Josiah Wood received little support in his bid to find "relative electoral parity" at a public hearing in Oliver Monday afternoon.

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Wood stressed the need for re-consideration of electoral boundaries is based on B.C. population shifts.Ridings must meet a minimum population requirement in order to affect fair representation in the legislature.Population levels in Okanagan/Boundary are below the prescribed number.

"On the basis of a constitutionally sound electoral map, it's not working... that's what we have to fix... Okanagan/Boundary has population much lower than the provincial electoral quota," said Wood.

"This wasn't done to irritate people.It wasn't done to break up communities of interest ... we have to bear in mind the over-riding mandate we have to observe the fundamental concept of representation by population," he added.

Wood commented that a shift anywhere in the province produces a "domino effect" elsewhere.

"You move one boundary and you have the effect of being able to do things in other ridings... it's like a house of cards - you move one and inevitably they all have to move, or many of them have to move."

Electoral Boundary Commission Chairman Josiah Wood received little support in his bid to find "relative electoral parity" at a public hearing in Oliver Monday afternoon.
...
Wood stressed the need for re-consideration of electoral boundaries is based on B.C. population shifts.Ridings must meet a minimum population requirement in order to affect fair representation in the legislature.Population levels in Okanagan/Boundary are below the prescribed number.

"On the basis of a constitutionally sound electoral map, it's not working ... that's what we have to fix ... Okanagan/Boundary has population much lower than the provincial electoral quota," said Wood.

"This wasn't done to irritate people.It wasn't done to break up communities of interest ... we have to bear in mind the over-riding mandate we have to observe the fundamental concept of representation by population," he added.

Wood commented that a shift anywhere in the province produces a "domino effect" elsewhere.

The Hon. Josiah Wood , QC

Member of the Society Board of Directors

Member of the Society Management Committee

The Hon. Josiah Wood , Q.C. , is currently practicing law with the Vancouer office of the Canadian law firm Blake , Cassels & Graydon after having served on the British Columbia Court of Appeal from 1989 until January 1996 and the Supreme Court of British Columbia from 1983 to 1989.

He holds a B.A. and an LL.B. from the University of British Columbia , was called to the B.C. Bar in 1968.In 1974 , he was admitted to the Alberta Bar.He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1997.

Prior to his appointment to the Bench , he practiced primarily criminal law from 1968 to 1983.He served as Bencher , Law Society of British Columbia form 1977 to 1983.

At various times throughout his professional career , in addition to his legal practice and judicial duties , Mr. Wood served as a Commissioner on the British Columbia Racing Commission , a judicial advisor to the Canada Law Reform Commission , member of the Executive Committee of the Vancouver Bar Association , a member of the British Columbia Justice Development Commission , a member of the Editorial Board of BarTalk , the British Columbia publication of the Canadian Bar Association and Chair of the British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission.

He is a frequent lecturer and faculty member for both the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia and the National Criminal Law Program run by the Federation of Canadian Law Societies and the Pacific Business Law Institute.

Mr. Wood is a fellow the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and holds a diploma in international commercial arbitration.

Josiah Wood Q.C. (*)
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At various times throughout his professional career, in addition to his legal practice and judicial duties, Mr. Wood served as a Commissioner on the British Columbia Racing Commission, a judicial advisor to the Canada Law Reform Commission, member of the Executive Committee of the Vancouver Bar Association, a member of the British Columbia Justice Development Commission, a member of the Editorial Board of BarTalk, the British Columbia publication of the Canadian Bar Association and Chair of the British Columbia Electoral Boundaries Commission.

He is a frequent lecturer and faculty member for both the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia and the National Criminal Law Program run by the Federation of Canadian Law Societies and the Pacific Business Law Institute.

Mr. Wood is a fellow the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and holds a diploma in international commercial arbitration.