The MLA for Emerson is not giving up in his efforts to restore the name Emerson to his constituency.

The Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission has decided to rename the riding as Borderland, which will go into effect when the next provincial election is called.

Cliff Graydon was critical of the decision when it was announced in late December and has now taken official action on the matter by sending a letter to the Boundaries Commission with copies sent to Premier Brian Pallister and Speaker of the House Myrna Driedger requesting the Commission reverse its decision.

The content of the message outlines some of the history of the Emerson riding, from its connection to the formation of the Canada-U.S. border to the arrival of the North West Mounted Police in the late 1800's.

According to the letter, Graydon is upset the Commission made the decision without any consultation with voters in the riding and simply chose to discard the name Emerson into 'the waste bin of history.'

"The word Borderland has no meaning at all. If they had done any communication about the name change, it might be different, but they said nothing, and I was at the hearing." 

Commission spokesperson Allison Mitchell admits the name change was never raised for discussion during the public consultation period, but they did receive some feedback questioning the use of a community name like Emerson to represent the whole constituency.

Those comments, in addition to changes to the constituency's electoral boundaries, contributed to the name change for Emerson, according to Mitchell.

However, Graydon doesn't buy that argument.

"Why didn't they change the name of Portage (constituency). I'll bet you if they had, the premier would have been pretty upset about that because that's his home riding. How does Turtle Mountain (constituency) refer to that riding? Turtle Mountain doesn't have a whole lot to do with the community of Miami. Quite frankly, if they had the intention of changing it, they should have said something. There is absolutely no specific reason to change it."

Graydon feels there needs to be some respect for the history behind the name of Emerson and feels such an important issue should be discussed in the legislature so that Manitobans could have a say in the matter.