Comment 18 – comments and feedback

Marian Brown

The proposed federal re-distribution of electoral ridings in Ontario gives overwhelming power to Toronto over all other areas of the province. Representation by population unfairly emphasizes the needs/wants of urban dwellers and nullifies any input from rural and sub-urban regions.

Using this method of voting allows an elected official to represent those persons contained in a few city blocks in Toronto, with equal value to another elected official in northern Ontario attempting to adequately represent the people living within several hundred square miles. It is easy to see that southern Ontario opinions – areas with the largest cities – will overwhelmingly rule any legislature.

In my particular case, London South is to be amalgamated with some farming areas and the city of St. Thomas. I don't feel I will be adequately represented as a member of the city of London; nor do I feel that the rural areas will receive adequate representation. However, in all cases, the more heavily populated areas will rule. In every case, the needs and wants of the rural and sub-urban are over-ruled by the wishes of the urban. Representation by population is NOT an equitable representation of sub-urban and rural needs.

In northern Ontario, many towns cannot afford to run a community bus service, but that will always be overshadowed by the transportation needs of larger cities – all located in southern Ontario. Also in northern Ontario, access to medical diagnostic and treatment services often requires travel across hundreds of kilometers, with little or no public transportation. Train service was eliminated years ago and bus service has become limited in recent years. Northern Ontario highways are often treacherous and impassable in winter due to inadequate maintenance by private contractors. However, maintenance of the 401 is unlimited and never neglected.

Cities have many intrinsic needs. However, once these needs have been met, it is unjust to continue to provide the cities' wants without first providing the small town and rural needs. This has been happening for many years and will certainly escalate with further reductions in representation for small towns and rural communities.

Representation by population places all of the governing power in the hands of city dwellers. It nullifies and eliminates any governing input from small towns and rural areas. For these reasons, I am opposed to this method of governing representation and oppose changes that will reduce the number of sub-urban and rural elected officials and increase the number of urban elected officials.

Marian Brown

London, ON