The MLA for La Verendrye has mixed feelings about proposed changes in his electoral boundaries for the next provincial election.

Boundaries are being altered to reflect the growing population here in the southeast.

Dennis Smook would lose the north half of his riding but would gain a little ground to the east, including Niverville. The riding would also be re-named Sandilands. Smook says change is nothing new for him when it comes to electoral boundaries.

Existing La Verendrye riding."When I first got elected in 2011, La Verendrye the name wasn't new, but the riding was new. I ran in basically a brand new riding where they took some territory from Emerson, some from Steinbach and some from Springfield, it was sort of a mixture of five different ridings. So, I guess, change is part of life. We have to expect change and work with it."

Smook says he also looks forward to the possibility of serving Niverville.

"I think it'll be an excellent fit. It will give us a balance. Up until now in the La Verendrye riding, the two major communities were Grunthal and La Broquerie and I think, having more of a bigger sort of more of an urban-type riding is always a good mix in a constituency."

At the same time, Smook says it will be sad to lose the many constituents in the northern part of the riding. He lists some of the communities that would be affected.

"Cooks Creek, a bedroom community to Winnipeg, Anola is a growing area, the Whitemouth area as well as

Proposed Sandilands riding Whiteshell Provincial Park, which is Falcon, West Hawk, Seven Sisters, Nutimik, that whole area. The riding today comes to within a mile of Dugald, to within a mile of Oakbank, to within a mile of Highway #44; in all parts of the riding there are some great communities so it's sort of sad to have to choose where to go."

Smook does say one benefit of the proposed changes would be a lot less driving because the geographical area would shrink considerably.

Public hearings will be held in September to get public feedback on proposed changes in electoral boundaries.