Comment 157 – comments and feedback
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Debbie Robinson
Ms. Paula Puddy
Commission Secretary
Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario
PO Box 37018 Southdale
London, ON N6E 3T3
Dear Commission Secretary Puddy,
At the regular meeting of County Council on August 31, 2022, the following resolution was unanimously passed:
and further that the Warden send a letter/submission to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission outlining the County's concerns.
The County of Renfrew is comprised of 17 unique and distinct municipalities, and has been represented by one Federal member for decades. The importance and significance of this representation cannot be understated; having one voice for our entire County is integral to our identity as an upper-tier municipality. Fractioning of the district would only serve to be detrimental to the effectiveness of coherent communication by our Federally elected leaders, and the service that they provide to all of the constituents.
The removal of the Township of Greater Madawaska, in the southern region of our County, would mean that residents would have to travel well outside of their region to obtain services, meet with their Member of Parliament, and get access to the MPs staff. Additionally, when County Council seeks answers and responses from our Federal Government, it would require us to seek representation/deputation from possibly two MPs of different parties and geographical allegiances, serving to divide our community even more.
Simply put, the proposed re-alignment of the Federal Electoral Boundaries for the sake of an entirely minute representation shift will cause unneeded disruption within our County.
County Council sees no benefit to the change in boundary lines and, as indicated above, its 17-member municipalities are united in their position that this proposal not move forward.
Sincerely,
Debbie Robinson, Warden
c: Cheryl Gallant, MP, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke
John Yakabuski, MPP, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke
City of Pembroke
County Council