"In this report, we propose a total of 83 electoral districts, with a provincial quotient of 49,560. We continue to propose a reduction of one electoral district in each of the North and the Cariboo-Thompson regions, but propose that the number of electoral districts in the Columbia-Kootenay region stay the same and that six electoral districts be added in urban regions."
Electoral Boundaries Commission, amended report, p. 1 (pdf page 11)

The Boundary Commission didn't quite refuse to bow to the bullying tactics of the Campbell government. Bill 39 which would have required the Commission to preserve unequal (by population) representation in select areas of the province was abandoned when opposed by the NDP, but the Campbell government announced that it would not implement recommendations of the Commission if it failed to accommodate the essence of the abandoned legislation. If the Campbell government carries through on that threat it could put the legitimacy of the May 12, 2009 election in question.

The Commission provided the Campbell government with precise instructions on how to ignore its report and implement new boundaries as if Bill 39 passed. Appendix P of its amended report provides maps of the boundaries for eight electoral districts in the North and five in the Cariboo-Thompson and the reasoning for them, as they would have been required to do under Bill 39. The Commission wrote: "In the event that the legislature accepts our proposals in the other 10 regions, but decides to proceed with alterations to restore the number of electoral districts in these two regions, the maps contained in Appendix P may provide assistance to the legislature when drawing the boundaries for these two regions." In other words, the Commission wouldn't violate what it saw as its legal responsibilities but it has provided the legislature with instructions on how to begin a process that may end in the Supreme Court of Canada.