Comment 43 – comments and feedback
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Christine Dingemans
Re: Federal Ward Redistribution, University-Rosedale and Toronto Centre
The Bay Cloverhill Community Association represents the area of Yonge/Charles/Queens Park/College, which is majority of the census area known as Bay Cloverhill 169 (Yonge/Bloor/Queens Park/College). Our catchment area is currently shared between two ridings, Toronto Centre and University-Rosedale, of which the same boundaries are used as federal, provincial and municipal districts. The current proposed federal ward redistribution will relocate the Bay Cloverhill neighbourhood solely into the University-Rosedale area, which makes sense to our neighbourhood association. We will maintain close ties with neighbouring Toronto Centre, with which we would share a boundary on Yonge Street.
Our primary concern is that future population growth is not accounted in this process. In the 2016 census, the Bay Cloverhill area had a population of 14,679. In the 2021 census, our population grew to 17,591 with an additional 2,912 residents, or a 20% increase in 5 years. With 11 development projects in our area under construction, approved or planned for the next 10 years, we estimate that another 8,661 more residents will call Bay Cloverhill home, or a whopping 49% increase, with an estimated total population of 26,252 in 2031. There may well be additional development projects that come up in the next 10 years, which will only accelerate the number of residents by the date of the next federal ward redistribution review in 2031. In general, large cities are underrepresented in Ontario, due to the adjustments made for rural and remote communities. City dwellers are already at a disadvantage, and ignoring anticipated future population exasperates the situation. Parity is pre-eminent and all residents should be treated fairly.
Thank you for taking into consideration our concerns.
Bay Cloverhill Community Association Board
- Jack Candido, President
- Marilyn Tait McClellan, Vice President
- Norm Waite, Treasurer
- Cathy Carnevali, Secretary
- Christine Dingemans, Director
c.c.:
- Jessica Bell, MPP, University Rosedale
- Councillor Mike Layton, Ward 11 University Rosedale
- Kristyn Wong Tam, MPP, Toronto Centre
- Councillor Robin Buxton Potts, Ward 13 Toronto Centre