Comment 31 – comments and feedback

Rhoda Potter

The attached letter from Agincourt Village Community Association shall serve as our direct notice in opposition and objection, to the proposal being brought forth by the Commission to divide and redistribute the historical Election Boundaries of Scaborough-Agincourt and Scarborough North.

Rhoda Potter
President AVCA

Dear Ms Paula Puddy,

As President of Agincourt Village Community Association and living for 45 years on Agincourt Drive on the original street of Agincourt Village established in 1858, I as well as AVCA object to the Commission's proposal.

The ensuing proposal to redistribute federal boundaries and reduce federal representation in Scarborough and thus in Toronto is based solely on the 2021 census population results and not on the yet to be released 2021 demographics. Our voice is impacted! Thus, our means to be heard and to improve our quality of life is impacted.

Let me quote from the City of Toronto Backgrounder released on February 11, 2022 regarding the 2021 Census:

• Toronto's population grew by 62,785 residents between 2016-2021.
• 179,296 more people live in Toronto than were here a decade ago
• The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the City's population growth
• Although Statistics Canada makes a great effort to count every person in each census a notable number of people are left out for a variety of reasons – travelling, some dwellings are hard to find and some people simply refuse to participate
• Using the Annual Demographic Estimates (ADE) the estimated net under coverage rate for the City in 2016 was 3.12% whereas for 2021 it may have almost doubled to 6.05%
• A measure of housing occupancy is the number of persons per household. (PPH) The PPH rate for Toronto cannot be calculated based on the data provided in this census release.

Scarborough Agincourt and Scarborough North according to the 2021 census diminished in population.

Given that the census allows for a % for this decrease it may not have been enough of an accommodation for these areas – Areas populated with front line workers during COVID, 42% household incomes under $49,999 according to the 2016 census Scarborough Agincourt demographics, 69% other than English mother tongue language according to the Scarborough Agincourt 2016 census, longer commute time spent on inefficient North Scarborough public transportation and residents' refusal to engage in the census - just because they were focused on keeping a roof over their heads and food on the table.

Just maybe these residents need more, not less representation!

The Commission's proposal to dissolve the Scarborough-Agincourt riding and reduce Scarborough to five rather than six federal representatives, states – I quote – "takes into consideration communities of interest or identity and historic and geographical factors."
Agincourt was a village – now an expanded village community within the city of Toronto! Historical sites exist. To name a few: Agincourt Junior Public School and Knox United Church designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and listed on the Toronto Heritage Property Register, the Oak Forest on Kennedy Road with links to the WW1 Battleground of Vimy Ridge and the Alexander Site of the 14th century Huron-Wendat Village within L'Amoreaux Park.

"Agincourt" gives its residents identity and historic roots. Agincourt would no longer exist! In the Commission's proposal - it would become Scarborough North West and Don Valley North. Scarborough Agincourt would be wiped from the map along with its identity and historic value. As previously established - until this Commission's proposal - Toronto federal, provincial, and municipal boundaries aligned. Toronto municipal boundaries were changed in 2018 when wards were reduced to 25. Scarborough Agincourt was impacted in this change only four years ago. In this Commission's proposal Scarborough-Agincourt provincial and municipal boundaries would not align with the newly created federal Scarborough North West and Don Valley North boundaries.

The proposed Scarborough North West and Don Valley North boundaries would no longer align with our 42 Police Division or our Education Ward boundaries. Will these boundaries change? Will our provincial and municipal boundaries change? Will Scarborough lose representation and another voice at the provincial and municipal levels as well?

The proposed Scarborough North West and Don Valley North boundaries would remove a large population number from Scarborough. Will this reduction in population impact the population data used when Scarborough Fights – and I say Fights for improved public transportation?

Scarborough represents one third of the area of Toronto, has multiple condominium projects being built now and many in planning stages. For example, the Agincourt Mall redevelopment which is approved by the City – the second largest in Toronto and located in Scarborough Agincourt - will add almost 5,000 condominium units. Intensification around the new under construction provincially and municipally funded McCowan Subway station located in Scarborough North will happen. The Scarborough Agincourt and Scarborough North population will increase by 2032. Will the boundaries be changed back again in 2023 when the population increases? Will Scarborough's quality of life be further diminished for its residents who are the very residents who need strong representation of their voices who are often not heard; and who may not have responded to the 2021 Census?

We as Toronto residents and federal constituents implore the Commission to take into account our 2021 Census concerns, review the 2021 census demographic data, think beyond the population census data and maintain our federal boundaries as they presently align with our provincial and municipal boundaries. Let us have our representative voice to speak for those who cannot!

Rhoda Potter

President
Agincourt Village Community Association