Comment 111 – comments and feedback

Alan J. Burt

As a lifelong resident of Ontario I find it particularly galling that the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission is even considering reducing the number of ridings in Scarborough.

Our undercounted population distorts the basis of determining Scarborough's federal boundaries. It is estimated that Scarborough has about 50,000 residents which are undocumented and therefore not counted in the last census. If these residents were counted, our population would be approximately 8% higher and there would be no case to remove one seat from Scarborough.

Scarborough is a Community of Interest. This redistribution disregards the cultural identity and historical significance of Scarborough especially Agincourt and the Golden Mile. The proposed realignment impacts Scarborough's identity and our residents' connections to their neighbourhoods, businesses, and their local community.

Fairness. How is it that the City of Toronto grows in population but loses a federal seat? Other parts of Ontario and other provinces are not growing and yet they retain their representation. Toronto is the largest and most diverse city in Canada with significant growth happening over the next five years, yet we are being disadvantaged in a zero-sum game that moves seats from growing areas to faster growing areas and doesn't touch other areas that are not growing.

Scarborough will lose three times. Ontario aligns its provincial ridings and municipal wards with the federal boundaries. Therefore, Scarborough will also lose one seat at Queens Park and at Toronto City Council.

Equity for our diverse communities. Scarborough has one of the highest diversity rates in Canada, with 74% visible minorities. A large portion of our population consists of equity-seeking groups who should not have their access to democratic representation diminished.

New housing and more residents are coming to Toronto and to Scarborough. As Canada's largest and most diverse community, Toronto has in its development pipeline 503,362 new housing units and approximately 94,000 have been recently built. Scarborough has 46,636 units coming on stream within the next few years with 10,380 units in Agincourt alone. Scarborough is expected to grow by 87,000 to 96,000 new residents and by Agincourt 20,000 to 23,000. The Commission should consider future growth that is already in progress and development applications now in the planning pipeline before reducing seats. We are seeing this at the local Committee of Adjustment (CoA) hearings where larger and larger homes are being approved to accommodate larger multi-generational and multi-family homes.

At some time in the near future (within ten years) will you have to consider restoring what you took away?

Confusing Decisions. The seat we will lose is in an area of Scarborough that just got a much-needed seat in the last realignment. Now the report recommends taking it away. What happens when the new housing developments are built over the next few years? Will they get it back? This can create voter confusion and disinterest which can impair voter turnout. No that needs much an incentive recently.

Scarborough deserves more consideration.

Sincerely,

Alan J. Burt