Comment 129 – comments and feedback

Arif Virani

Dear Commissioners,

Thank you for the work that has gone into this proposal, enclosed are some important considerations that I believe will further represent community interests in the region, which I provide as a supplement to my oral submissions delivered virtually on October 18, 2022.

First, I endorse in their entirety, the written submission provided on behalf of 24 Toronto Members of Parliament, by Nathanial Erskine-Smith, dated October 8, 2022. Indeed, my name is one of the listed signatories to that document.

Second, I would ask the Commission for Ontario to consider the region of the City of Toronto as a whole. While it is understandable, that in order to add one new constituency to the province (as mandated by statute) and simultaneously meet the new Electoral Quota of 116,590, some changes to the current riding boundaries are necessary. In my view, these changes should not come at the cost of one seat for the City of Toronto. The City of Toronto is not solely the largest urban centre in the country (and will continue to grow based on consistent immigration patterns to our country), it is also the most diverse. The plethora of communities, ethnicities, races and cultural groups that reside in Toronto, merit adequate representation in the House of Commons. Moreover, such representation should be reflective of the population itself—a reduction in the number of constituencies in Toronto will have an impact on the ability of equity-deserving groups to seek and successfully attain public office. Indeed, the direct consequence of reducing the number of electoral districts for Toronto, and the impact it has on producing a diverse group of elected representatives can be observed in the 2018 municipal election results in Toronto, following the reduction in the number of city wards. As a city of 44 wards in the 2014-2018 period, Toronto had 14 women councillors, including 8 racialized representatives. When the city was reduced to 25 wards in 2018, the tendency of traditional established candidates to dominate in electoral politics was accentuated1, resulting in only 8 women councillors, including only 4 racialized persons being elected.

As Supreme Court Justice Beverley McLachlin has noted, effective representation means "factors like geography, community history, community interests and minority representation may need to be taken into account to ensure that our legislative assemblies effectively represent the diversity of our social mosaic": Reference re Prov. Electoral Boundaries (Sask.) [1991] 2 SCR 158 at 184.

In my submission, the electoral map for Ontario ought to be redrawn, such that Toronto maintains its current allotment of 25 MPs and in accordance with the revised map proposed herein, which respects the Electoral Quota targeted by the Commission (see Schedule A, attached).

Third, as set out in the attached map, the proposed extension of the eastern boundary of the current riding of Parkdale-High Park, to extend eastward along the railway line until Strachan Avenue, and then south to Lake Ontario, is warranted. The Commission's proposed extension follows the rail corridor and the lake, which are natural boundaries. In addition, the proposal would include similar residents who are primarily building dwellers, living in vertical communities, that have a shared interest with the current residents of Parkdale-High Park in combatting overdevelopment and ensuring that Toronto's waterfront resources are appropriately maintained. The Commission's proposal would also place the waterfront locations of Ontario Place, the Cinesphere, the Budweiser Stage, BMO Field and the CNE all within one constituency, which is appropriate given the frequent use of these locations by the residents of the proposed new riding. All of these residents share a common objective of ensuring that these waterfront locations remain accessible, and that they are maintained and developed in an environmentally sustainable manner. It is notable that until 2018, the municipal boundary for the previous Ward 14 (Parkdale-High Park), extended west of Dufferin along King Street as well, demonstrating a commonality of interests among both residents, and the small businesses that operate in this part of downtown Toronto. The Commission's proposed extension would include residents that avail themselves of similar services to the current residents of Parkdale--in particular, the same policing services from 14 Division, the same transit (e.g. Exhibition GO station), similar elementary schools (Dr Rita Cox — Kina Minogok Public School) and secondary schools (Parkdale Collegiate Institute), and the same regional hospital, namely St. Joseph's Health Centre. Finally, adding this proposed area east of Dufferin Street to the riding of Parkdale-High Park is necessary, in order to meet the Electoral Quota target of 116,590 set by the Commission for Ontario. The proposed area represents 7,251 residents, according to the 2021 Census. As the riding of Parkdale-High Park is currently 8.4% below the Electoral Quota, without the addition of these 7,251 residents, the size of the constituency would deviate significantly from the statistical target set by Elections Canada, resulting in an inequity as compared with other Toronto ridings and other ridings across the province.

Fourth, I applaud the efforts of the Commission for Ontario to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples on this land. The constituency of Parkdale-High Park is home to a large number of sites of tremendous importance for Indigenous peoples, including over 50 ancient Iroquois burial mounds in High Park itself. The Taiaiako'n Historical Preservation Society has been at the forefront of this work for several decades, which involves important awareness raising about the ancient Mohawk-Seneca town site of Taiaiako'n (the village at the crossing) located in current day Baby Point, in the riding of Parkdale-High Park. (I presume that the Taiaiako'n Historical Preservation Society, as well as the Mohawk and Seneca peoples have been consulted about this name change—if this is not the case, I urge the Commission to immediately do so, as this critical for meaningfully advancing reconciliation which must be Indigenous led). Most importantly, this constituency is home to thousands of residents, across all its neighbourhoods, who both appreciate this history and want to work to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. A name change for this riding, to include the name "Taiaiako'n" would be important symbolically, as a reflection of this shared voyage toward reconciliation by first peoples and settlers on this land.

That said, while it is important to have a constituency name that reflects Indigenous presence on this land over millennia, in my view it is equally important to reflect the communities that currently reside here. The traditional village of Parkdale, which has existed since 1879, ought to remain within the name of this riding. Parkdale is community unlike any other in Toronto—with its blend of newcomers and recent immigrants, to those that have been resident for decades, Parkdale represents a remarkably diverse mix of residents. The businesses and organizations that operate in Parkdale are a strong mix of social entrepreneurs and advocacy groups that defend the marginalized and promote the rights of BIPOC and the vulnerable, including persons who are low-income or affected by mental health concerns. This is part of the uniqueness of Parkdale which is scarcely replicated not just across Toronto, but indeed across Canada. "Parkdale" merits retention, by name, in the constituency that represents this part of Western Toronto, so that its residents remain heard, and recognized in the House of Commons. As such, I propose to the Commission for Ontario that the new name for this constituency by "Taiaiako'n--Parkdale--High Park".

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario, both orally and in writing. I appreciate the tremendous amount of work this represents.

Yours truly,

Arif Virani

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