Comment 60 – comments and feedback

Hilla Master

My name is Hilla Master, and I have had the privilege of residing in the riding of Scarborough-Agincourt for 18 years (2002 – 2020). Since then, up until the present time, I have also had the opportunity of serving the residents in the ridings of Scarborough-Agincourt & the former riding of Scarborough-Rouge River (split into Scarborough North & Scarborough Rouge Park during the last redistribution) through my employment and volunteer work in the community.

Ever since amalgamation, Scarborough has been treated unfairly, and had to consistently fight for funding and services, despite being the largest immigrant receiving community and serving the most vulnerable populations in the GTA. Do we now also have to fight for our democratic right to fair representation? By proposing to take away a seat from the GTA (in Scarborough), the Commission leaves the residents of Scarborough-Agincourt & Scarborough North, feeling disrespected and disenfranchised.

The 2003 Electoral Boundaries Commission established five electoral districts situated entirely within the former City of Scarborough, and a sixth electoral district that was shared with the City of Pickering in the Durham region. During the last Redistribution in 2013, the Commission came to the conclusion that "with a census population of 625,698, the Scarborough area warrants six electoral districts". The commission got it right, why reverse this now?

The current Redistribution Proposal seems to focus on population quota deviation tolerance levels as being central to the debate, but sadly leaves the unquantifiable aspect of what constitutes "fair and effective representation" open to dispute. This was made abundantly clear at the Toronto Virtual Hearing I attended on September 29, 2022, as well as the overwhelming response the Commission has, by its own admission, received not only from residents and stakeholders in Scarborough but from all across the GTA, opposing the proposed change of reducing one seat in the GTA (namely by getting rid of a seat in Scarborough).

The City of Toronto's report on the 2021 census says that while estimated net undercoverage for Toronto was 3.12% in 2016, it may have almost doubled to 6.05% in 2021. While the 2021 census figures may show a decline in population in the GTA, anyone living in the GTA and in Scarborough knows this is simply not the case:

• Four-fifths of Canada's population growth from 2016 to 2021 was attributable to immigration
• Immigration – not birth rate was the driver in Canada's population growth from 2016 to 2021.
• It was also the main reason for a slowdown in population growth starting in 2020, as border restrictions were imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19, and many migrant workers and students left Canada temporarily.
• The existing ridings of Scarborough-Agincourt and Scarborough-North are both ?high-needs? communities. Immigrants make up over 67% of the population in both ridings, among the highest such percentage for any Canadian federal riding.
• Both are communities that receive large numbers of new immigrants due to the availability of cheaper rental housing. In addition between the two ridings there are a large number of seniors' homes, mostly serving vulnerable seniors facing language barriers.
• As per the 2021 Census seniors constitute the fastest-growing age group, with a 12% increase from 2016.
• Many seniors in Scarborough-Agincourt and Scarborough North are vulnerable seniors facing language barriers, who were isolated during the pandemic and due to overworked administrative staff and lack of assistance from family members, failed to be counted in the 2021 census.
• Community activists, youth workers, and local representatives have been working for decades to build a sense of community in Scarborough and continue to fight for funding for community support, services and programs to engage youth, newcomers and seniors to create a safer community. In turn, the excellent work and efforts that resident organizations, community agencies, and service providers have accomplished to build these communities would be eroded if parts of Scarborough were to now be put in North York. Through splitting of communities of interest you will disconnect stakeholders who have built a cohesive network within Scarborough to serve its residents, whose needs are very different from those of North York residents.
• To adequately service the needs of the high percentage of the vulnerable population in GTA and Scarborough in particular we simply cannot afford to lose representation.
• In anticipation of the proposed Sheppard Transit, housing development along Sheppard East, redevelopment of the Agincourt Mall and Village Green Communities has already begun. Just in Scarborough-Agincourt alone we are likely to see a significant growth in housing developments. Voters in this area will therefore be at a serious disadvantage over the 10 years between redistributions, as the riding population increases and their individual voting power decreases.
• Scarborough needs 6 MPs for effective representation of the populations it serves. Historical Importance of Scarborough & Agincourt

All City planning current and future in terms of housing, transit, police services, health care and social services is based on preset metropolitan Toronto planning area boundaries which clearly sees Scarborough and North York as distinctly separate regions with very distinct interests and needs.

Agincourt is north Scarborough's oldest and most well-established community. Much of the North Scarborough community developed after the construction of the Agincourt Railway Station (now Agincourt GO station), this saw the building of the Agincourt School House, Knox Presbyterian Church on Kennedy Road and Agincourt postal office. The existing Agincourt Community still straddles the communities of Steeles, L'Amoreaux, Tam O Shanter, in Scarborough-Agincourt, as well as some communities in North Scarborough and Milliken, which were previously in Scarborough-Agincourt but formed part of Scarborough North as a result of the last redistribution, thus putting the Agincourt Collegiate Institute and the Agincourt Mall in the riding of Scarborough North. Using "compass points" to determine the naming of Scarborough ridings, is disrespectful and unfortunate. The historical name for the north west region of Scarborough must retain the name of Scarborough-Agincourt.

Toronto is recognized as a global powerhouse that serves as the engine for economic growth across southern Ontario. If anything it deserves more representation not less.

In conclusion, I feel confident that the Commission will not ignore the overwhelming evidence of the flawed census on which the redistribution proposal appears to be based, ignore the desire for communities of interest and identity, both new and historic to be maintained, and pay heed to the need to maintain 6 electoral districts in Scarborough, as well as the importance of giving Toronto the representation it deserves.

Thank you.

Hilla Master