Comment 217 – comments and feedback

Leslie Stewart

I'm writing as a long time resident of Kingston East or if you were to ask I live in Kingston, Ontario. I do not support or agree with this idea of changing the boundaries within Kingston.

The fact that Kingston, the province, and the federal government have invested millions of dollars to build a new bridge is testament to the connection between the residents of Kingston east and the rest of the city. Now you think it's OK to divide a city? Dividing the city on political lines - a new constituency - makes little sense when all three levels of government have invested so much to tie the two sides of the river together.

Creating a constituency line based on the cataraqui river would possibly create a focus on the needs of the residents of Kingston East over the needs of the residents who live in the rural areas of the proposed constituency lines.

Has anyone looked at the demographics of who resides in Kingston East? How many of these people work at CFB Kingston, Corrections Canada, or Canadian Border Services? Do you think we have connections or lifestyle choices to those who live in Gananoque of places further east? Kingston east is predominantly inhabited by residents employed by government and large institutional organizations (educational institutions). These people share little in common with the residents who live East of the joyceville road who are predominantly rural in nature.

If this region needs to have a redistribution, I'd suggest you look little further east and leave Kingston East as it should be, ONE City of Kingston.

I look forward to hearing more information about this matter.

Leslie Stewart