Comment 50 – comments and feedback

Back to all comments and feedback from the public

Carolyn Bennett, MP for Toronto-St. Paul's

Dear Ontario Commission members,

Thank you all for the time and effort that was put into reviewing the federal electoral districts within Ontario and specifically Toronto. We have reviewed your proposal thoroughly and thoughtfully while ensuring to connect with, and listen to our Toronto-St. Paul's, residents and community-based organizations, who call this electoral district home.

I am reflecting the feedback I have received regarding the proposed changes. We believe it would be helpful and successful in adjusting the 416 electoral districts, and specifically our Toronto—St. Paul's riding.

Riding Name Change from Toronto-St. Paul's to St. Clair - Mount Pleasant

Our constituents have pointed out that this is the only electoral district name change proposed amongst our neighbours.

We would like to underline the importance of the name 'Toronto-St. Paul's' and the historical significance it holds to this electoral district.

Toronto-St. Paul's is unique. It's home to so many residents, associations and community organizations that have spent years, decades and generations within this district. I have lived in Toronto-St. Paul's almost all my life. My family owned a flower shop here, when I was born we lived in the apartment above the store. I worked there until I finished medical school and for over 40 years I have lived in the house across the laneway from the store. My parents taught me very early on the importance of community and the value in shopping local and empowering the businesses, organizations and residents within our neighbourhood, it was part of our identity.

The name Toronto-St. Paul's is historically significant not only to the midtown Toronto area but to Toronto as a whole. Toronto-St. Paul's has grown with Toronto over the past 80 years. The neighbourhoods within this district are some of the foundational communities that we have come to know and cherish over the years as the City of Toronto welcomes more and more residents.

St. Paul's has been a federal electoral district in Toronto represented in the House of Commons since 1935. From its creation up till 1987 the district of St. Paul's included two prominent churches that led to its name; St Paul's, the largest Anglican church in Toronto on Bloor Street, and St. Paul's, Avenue Road United Church.

The name Toronto-St. Paul's has taken on further history as the churches fell out of the riding through redistribution. The name has acted as a strong backbone - an identity which holds memories that tie these neighbourhoods together, the legacy of MPs during my lifetime, from Roland Michener, Ian Wahn, Ron Atkey, John Roberts, Barbara McDougall to my predecessor Barry Campbell have played central roles in the history of Canada. The name St. Paul's continues to be a part of the stories behind the vibrant neighbourhoods that make up this riding - Toronto-St. Paul's. Yesterday at a meeting at Christie Gardens, there was unanimity that the residents feel no affiliation with Mount Pleasant as the proposed name of the riding. We have heard similar concerns from those who do not relate to St. Clair.

In addition to its historical significance, we have had several constituents and businesses reach out to the Toronto-St. Paul's office highlighting that the name change would cause unnecessary tax dollars being spent for signage, stationary including business cards and more. We see no reason to change the name of this electoral district.

Boundary Changes

Boundaries

We would like to share some feedback on two communities of interest that would be impacted by the proposed changes.

Davisville Village and Mount Pleasant West

The feed back has been that moving the East border from Mount Pleasant to Laird Drive would divide the Leaside neighbourhood. Previous to the last redistribution, Toronto-St. Paul's included Mount Pleasant to Bayview. In 2011, this neighbourhood was separated into two districts; Toronto-St Paul's and Don Valley West. As the MP for Toronto-St. Paul's it is common to have the residents in this area come first to the Toronto-St. Paul's constituency office to look for support. We have heard that changing this neighbourhood back to the previous 2012 redistribution districts would cause further confusion for residents and a sense of being pushed back and forth between two electoral districts. We are hearing that it is very important for the Mount Pleasant East community to stay united under their present electoral district – Don Valley West.

We want to highlight the importance of keeping the East border to Mount Pleasant and not reaching out to Leaside as that would cause Leaside to be split from the Don Valley West district; which it has deep ties to with other communities and neighbourhoods within that district. Over the years Leaside has worked hard to develop relationships and a sense of community with their neighbours. I believe you will hear from MP Oliphant and the Leaside community the importance of keeping this community together.

Deer Park Community

Deer Park is a community of identity that has been part of Toronto-St. Paul's for decades. The railway line has provided a natural boundary. Transferring the areas north of the tracks between Avenue Road and Yonge Street would create what past commissions have referred to as "orphan polls."

Dividing the Deer Park Community at Avenue Road would separate a community that has been known to be together within the same district for as long as residents can remember.

Keeping the present boundaries, by following the natural boundaries and neighbourhoods of interest is so key to ensuring the continued success and vibrancy of the City of Toronto. These communities have developed relationships, partnerships and friendships that are so significant to giving life and excitement to the electoral district. At a meeting with the residents of the Avoca community, they were clear that they wanted to remain in Toronto-St. Paul's as they relate to the St. Clair communities as they are separated from University Rosedale by the ravine and the reservoir. David Crombie called Toronto, a city of neighbourhoods. In my 25 years representing the engaged citizens of St. Paul's (for 10 years -Toronto-St. Paul's) I have learned how important it is for neighbourhoods to have a shared identity that inspired them to work together and help one another – what Jane Jacobs called 'neighbourliness'. We are stronger together.

The natural communities and boundaries that have been created over the years have resulted in strong relationships and citizen engagement. Our focus in Toronto-St. Paul's has been to create a 'Democracy between Elections' by creating the opportunities from communities to provide feedback and express their vision and priorities to all elected representative in our riding.

In conclusion, I believe that I am accurately reflecting the perspectives of the constituents with respect to the preferred boundaries for Toronto-St. Paul's as reflected in the map attached which keeps us within the population target, as well as their preference to maintain the current name of the riding.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Bennett MP for Toronto-St. Paul's