Comment 350 – comments and feedback

May Wong, President
and Elizabeth Wong, Secretary

Please find the attached letter submitted against the proposed boundary change. Thanks!

Attachment:

Brain Beat Dance Canada Seniors Association (BBDCSA)

September 22, 2022

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

We are a not-for-profit organization in Scarborough. We have certified brain beat dance instructors promoting and teaching brain beat dances in the community including churches, community centres, Active Living Centres, nursing homes, health care institutions and mental health organization such as the Hong Fook Mental Health.

Most classes we conduct are in Scarborough and we are well familiar with the needs of the seniors, the vulnerables and the growth of influx of immigrants and refugees, especially for the last 2 years where Scarborough has been their homes with more support and services for them. Language barrier, transportation and affordability are also reasons why they choose Scarborough.

We are concerned about the proposed changes to the Federal Electoral Districts, particularly the loss of an electoral riding in Scarborough and thereby Toronto.

The proposal takes out a large portion of Scarborough North, and a sizable portion of Scarborough-Agincourt, and collapses areas of these communities into a new riding called Scarborough Northwest. This would not only break up existing communities, but it would redistribute a sizeable portion of Scarborough-Agincourt into North York and delete any reference to the history of Agincourt in the process. Scarborough Village dates back to 1832 and Agincourt emerged in 1858 as a farming town and continues to this present day to have a rich cultural and historical identity. One example is Agincourt Junior Public School, which is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and is listed on the Toronto Heritage Property Register.

The western municipal boundary of Scarborough clearly ends at Victoria Park Ave. Taking parts of Scarborough from Warden Ave. and Pharmacy Road to Victoria Park Ave. will break up police services from 42 Division, health care services and social and seniors' community services. Like Scarborough North, Scarborough-Agincourt has large numbers of seniors, newcomers, families, and immigrants. Scarborough-Agincourt's immigrant population is 19% over the Toronto average. Over the decades, our communities have created an interconnected network of services that meet Scarborough's unique needs.

In anticipation of the Sheppard subway line, numerous developments are happening right now all along Sheppard Ave. E., and even more in the near future, including the Agincourt Mall 5,000-unit condominium/retail development, and the current Village Green (Kennedy and 401) condominium expansion. The Agincourt Mall project is the largest residential development application in Scarborough and the 2nd largest residential application in the City of Toronto. The 2021 census does not take into account these developments, which, if factored in will substantially increase the population of Scarborough-Agincourt. Nor does the Census taken in 2021 (a pandemic year) reflect the true number of residents living Scarborough-Agincourt and Scarborough North.

People who do not understand Scarborough are making decisions that will impact our daily lives – we deserve better. The strong representation that six representatives has afforded us has finally gotten us closer to being heard. One less voice from Scarborough is one less voice for health care, subways, seniors, residents, and businesses.

Please take our concerns seriously and keep Scarborough-Agincourt and Scarborough North as distinct ridings. We want fair representation for Scarborough and Toronto as a whole.

Sincerely,

May Wong President
Elizabeth Wong Secretary