Sask. Tories say riding boundary process flawed, prejudged

Proposed changes to federal electoral boundaries would create urban-only ridings in Saskatoon, eliminating the current urban-rural mix.

Conservative MPs are accusing the independent commission charged with redrawing Saskatchewan's riding maps of ignoring evidence and making up its mind early in the process.

The electoral boundaries commission recommended last year that more ridings be made exclusively rural or exclusively urban instead of hybrids.

That's supported by the NDP and Liberals, who theoretically benefit from more urban ridings, but has been vigorously attacked by the Conservatives as an unnecessary change.

Conservative MPs testifying at a Commons committee say the commission appeared to side with the views of a group of political scientists early on in the process and even purposely ignored evidence.

Some of the MPs complain that the proposed changes would make it harder to provide service to their constituents, with long distances to cover.

But Ralph Goodale, the lone Liberal MP from Saskatchewan, defends the work of the commission as measured, reasoned and balanced.