Commentaire 365 – commentaires et rétroaction

Josephine Kwan

September 21^st, 2022

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

I'm writing on behalf of the Bridlewood Mall, which is part of the city of Scarborough now an area within the City of Toronto. We are concerned about the proposed changes to the Federal Electoral Districts, particularly the loss of an electoral riding in Scarborough and thereby Toronto.

As the Bridlewood Mall has been an integral part of the Scarborough's community for over 47 years, we were not even notified of such a major change from Scarborough to North York. Not even a letter has been sent to us for this proposal. Does no one think it would affect our tenants and our community? This 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.

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. This will greatly affect the Bridlewood Mall and everything surrounding around this community. With over 47 years in this communities, we have created an interconnected network of services that meet Scarborough's uniqueness and its people in this community.

Businesses that open here will now think twice because they will say they already have representation in North York so they will not open in our mall because we have now changed from Scarborough to North York. Do we now have to go to North York City Hall for permits instead of Scarborough City Hall? All of our tenants and our community will be affected. Our tenants will now have to go to the already busy North York City Hall to get their permits for any renovations or any permits necessary for the running of their store. This is a major change for everyone including our contractors, tenants and community.

Please take our concerns seriously and keep Scarborough-Agincourt and Scarborough North as distinct ridings. Please keep Bridlewood Mall as part of the Scarborough area. Bridlewood Mall is a community mall for the Scarborough area. You are taking away the uniqueness of Scarborough and taking away the community that is has served since 1975.

Yours truly,

Josephine Kwan
CEO/Managing Director