Comment 388 – comments and feedback

Jack Kwok and CHAN Kui Tuen

oi kin senior citizens fund corp.
ontario corporated, registered on july 28, 1995
address of the corp. xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
city of scarborough xxxxxx

Opinion in dissolving Scarborough-Agincourt into adjacent ridings

Scarborough Senior Chinese Association (OKSCFC) is a registered Not-For-Profit organization in Ontario founded in 1995, as quoted.

1. We note the specialties of Scarborough-Agincourt ridings as listed below.
   • 1.1 Largest number of seniors with mixed nationalities, almost 50% of its total population
   • 1.2 Largest number with mixed nationalities, almost 50% of its total population;
   • 1.3 The density of residents is highest, even among complete Scarborough boundary, namely the Bamburgh Circle complex, Bridletowne circle complex, Bonis Avenue complex, L' Amoreaux Drive complex, etc. ;
   • 1.4 The number of multi-level condominium is highest, which include low cost housing, senior homes, long-term cared homes, within the Scarborough boundary, namely Sheppard Village Senior Homes complex, Mon Sheong Senior Homes complex, St. Paul Senior Homes complex, McNicolle Manor Retirement Homes, Tender Cares Senior Homes complex, etc.;
   • 1.5 The ratio of different ethnic groups also high, and there is rare disputes or racism among other residents, instead everybody live in a harmonized and mutually cooperative manner;
   • 1.6 There are lots of charity organizations serving the new comers, seniors, such as Carefirst Seniors, Wishing Well, CICS, TCCSA, etc.;
   • 1.7 Demand for senior homes and long term cared homes are high.
   • 1.8 Unemployment rate is low.
2. Facilities are convenient to Scarborough-Agincourt residents
   • 2.1 Proximity to Toronto Sub-way / Sky Train and the Don Valley Parkway;
   • 2.2 Local employment, in Down Town Toronto and near Don Valley Parkway;
   • 2.3 Commercial and industrial plaza both in Scarborough boundary, and alongside Woodbine Avenue which is closed to Scarborough boundary;
   • 2.4 Junior and secondary schools in Scarborough-Agincourt riding, plus sufficient charity organization to help new comers and immigrants, or to those who do not speak English.
   • 2.5 There is a Scarborough General Hospital in the middle of the riding, and other community centers such as library, churches are also available. (Sheet 1/3)
3. Shortage of senior housing across Canada including Scarborough-Agincourt
   • 3.1 Scarborough-Agincourt is also experiencing high demand of senior residence both for senior homes and long term cared homes, due to its densely population and growth;
   • 3.2 Though the City of Toronto has initiated different options, to resolve housing demand for residents, the waiting list is still long (closed to 1 million applicants), which could be similar to other provinces. Both the Federal and Provincial Government also offer various incentives for charity organizations to build affordable housing.
4. Draw back consideration of dissolving Scarborough-Agincourt riding
   • 4.1 The disrupt to the electoral boundary will disrupt the official support and advisory services through the 3 levels of Federal/Provincial/City supports to residents, and complaints may arise, making the respective expanded ridings difficult to manage;
   • 4.2 The disrupt to the electoral boundary will disrupt operational boundary of the respective charity organizations in offering their services to residents;
   • 4.3 The harmonized resident relationship may also be disrupted, initially within the boundary of changes, and a negative impact could be activated damaging the already harmonized relationship among citizens, creating new problems in the community;
   • 4.4 There could be a negative opinion against the Federal Government's commitment to resolve the demand of senior homes and long term cared homes for seniors in the community due to dissolving Scarborough-Agincourt community into 3 adjacent communities with revised statistic calculation of housing need;
   • 4.5 The work done or planned schedules for reinforcing additional accommodation, may also be disrupted.
5. The built up of harmonized relationship among citizens
   • 5.1 It is rare to have a harmonized riding or town like Scarborough-Agincourt.
   • 5.2 Our previous experience of electoral boundary changes, from 6 cities amalgamated into one Maga City called "City of Toronto", is being detached as new councilors have their new agenda of operation, and eventually disconnected;
   • 5.3 We witness the great effort by MP Arnold Chan, MP Jean Yip, and MPP Aris Babikian rebuilding and reconnecting the inter-relationship in the community. (Sheet 2/3)
6. SSCA opinion on the proposed electoral boundary of Scarborough-Agincourt
   • 6.1 The proposed changes of Scarborough-Agincourt, in electoral boundary, may follow initial though of the Federal Government, to make an effective improvement to the balanced population of community, but eliminating the Scarborough-Agincourt community is not supportive or recommendable due to consideration as listed above;
   • 6.2 A newer consideration is that, the current successful achievement of Scarborough-Agincourt with a harmonizes community should not be ignored, and an analysis and study could be carried out to identify reasons and ways of its success. The findings on its formation and the associated factors identified could be used for other city planning reference.
   • 6.3 A Maga Scarborough City could be considered, with the associated communities, plus the on-hand housing solution to meet community needs with a larger population. Maga Scarborough City could become a more distinct City in Ontario.
   • 6.4 In consideration of Maga Scarborough City, the review of job opportunity needs, a comprehensive review of the community for the provision of commercial/industrial provision to overcome the concern of job available for local residents, and some of the branch offices in downtown Toronto could be encourage to move northward with its convenient in traffic, and at the same time relief the heavily congestion of Don Valley Parkway during rush hours.
   • 6.5 To avoid competition in construction for establishing the proposed Maga Scarborough City, the revised town planning model have to impose development schedule as general guideline, from causing property market rapid raise, and shortage of construction labor, to the newly proposed Maga Scarborough City. This process when finalized, could create a smooth growth of resources development and job market, also as a longer-term job creation strategy. (Sheet 3/3)

For and on behalf of
Board of Directors of
Oi Kin Senior Citizens Fund Corporation