Comment 177 – comments and feedback

David Ung

Dear Members of the Ontario Commission for the Federal Electoral Districts Redistribution:

I oppose the possible readjustment of electoral boundaries that will delete the Scarborough-Agincourt Federal Electoral District, delete its representative rights in the legislature, and deprive its electorate and constituents of their distinct identity and rights of political representation. Such readjustment is against the law, Constitution of Canada and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The removal of the Scarborough-Agincourt Federal Electoral District violates The Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act that requires in its Section 15(1) of its rules that readjustment should consider the community of interest or community of identity or the historical pattern of an electoral district in the province. Despite extensively considering population numbers, social and demographic aspects were not considered in the draft Report.

While the law mandates a review of electoral boundaries, it does not authorize the outright disregard of social and demographic aspects in favour of population numbers alone. While the law allows a discretionary readjustment of electoral boundaries, it does not allow outright negation of current political boundaries and corresponding representation without serious change of circumstances. Note:

1. Scarborough-Agincourt Federal District was established in 1988, and has been politically, socially, economically, and culturally active for 34 years since then.
2. Historically, immigrants make up 67.8% of the population of Scarborough—Agincourt, the highest such percentage for any Canadian federal riding; those from Asia and the Middle East alone, constitute a majority of the population (53.0%), which is also the highest figure for any federal riding. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough%E2%80%94Agincourt) Those of Indian and Filipino migrant origins are not far behind judging by the latest demographics.

Moreover, the draft Commission's Report deleting the Scarborough-Agincourt Federal Electoral District is arbitrary and violates the Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. By disregarding the community aspect, cultural rights have been violated as well. We stress that the Scarborough-Agincourt's largely multi-cultural immigrant population has a long history of contributing to the socioeconomic stability and vitality of this country. Such readjustment, if allowed, will be a dangerous and arbitrary outright application of the letter of the law rather than allowing its spirit to prevail. The Committee should also acknowledge Canadian multiculturalism and the contribution of each of its member-cultures whose interests and goals should be taken together in determining the country's political future.

In view thereof, it is respectfully submitted that the elimination of the Scarborough-Agincourt Federal Electoral District should not be allowed, and that the Commission's Report be amended to give due regard to multi-cultural and socio-demographic realities to ensure compliance with law.

Respectfully,

David Ung
XXXXXX, Toronto, ON
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