Commentaire 389 – commentaires et rétroaction

Jacky Duong

Ms. Paula Puddy
Commission Secretary
Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario
PO Box 37018 Southdale
London, ON N6E 3T3

September 22nd 2022

RE: Proposed Riding Changes in Scarborough in the City of Toronto

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

I am a resident of Scarborough—Agincourt within the former city of Scarborough, in the City of Toronto. I am concerned about the proposed changes to the Federal Electoral District, particularly the loss of an electoral riding in Scarborough, and the loss of history with the proposed decision to drop "Agincourt" from the name of the proposed Scarborough Northwest riding. While I would like to retain the boundaries of Victoria Park Ave and 6 Scarborough ridings, particularly with the significant redevelopment projects, such as the Agincourt Mall redevelopment, the second largest residential application in the City of Toronto in Scarborough—Agincourt.

While I support the retention of the existing boundaries, I particularly urge the retention of Agincourt in the riding name (rather than Scarborough Northwest). Likewise, consideration for Don Valley North and Don Valley East to include a hyphenated name linking the riding to and acknowledging the inclusion of Scarborough whether explicitly including 'Scarborough' or a neighbourhood such as L'Amoreaux or Wexford, if the boundaries extend beyond Victoria Park Avenue.

Even with the boundary changes, Agincourt is still widely within the proposed riding of Scarborough Northwest, encompassing Agincourt Mall, Agincourt GO Station, Agincourt Junior Public School, North Agincourt Junior Public School, Agincourt Collegiate Institute, etc. Furthermore, a large chunk of the official City of Toronto Neighbourhoods, Agincourt North (129) and Agincourt South-Malvern West (128) are located within the boundaries of Scarborough Northwest. Agincourt's 'centre' of Midland Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East is well within the proposed riding.

What is in a name? Agincourt was founded in 1858 as a farming community. Agincourt Continuation School was the first school to offer Secondary education in Scarborough. Thus, more than changing a boundaries beyond the former municipalities of Toronto, this change actively deletes the history of Agincourt, which began as a farming town in 1858, and its more recent rich history as a diverse immigrant-rich community following successive waves of immigration in the 80s/90s/00s/present, which were closely associated with "Agincourt".

Thus, Agincourt is still well represented within the proposed Scarborough Northwest, why remove a meaningful name for cardinal directions?

Regards,

Jacky Duong

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