Comment 303 – comments and feedback

Michael Kiefl

Comments / Commentaires:

In the five ridings of Central East Ontario, the districts are well-aligned in terms of municipal boundaries & population. The 14 districts allocated for Eastern Ontario & Ottawa, however, show population imbalance & questionable divisions.

For the combined total of the 6 Eastern Ontario and 8 Ottawa districts, the population is 1,676,750, which divided by 14 is 119,767, a minor 2.7% variance above the southern Ontario quota. There is a way to allocate 14 districts near this figure, without disturbing the nearly perfectly-aligned Central East ridings. The proposed districts, range from 109,784 to 127,255, 6% below and 9% above quota, respectfully. I believe the key to improving representation between the districts begins with the proposed "Gananoque - Brockville - Prescott" riding, which I would fall into.

I propose a revised boundary of South Frontenac, Kingston's "Countryside" municipal district, plus the counties Leeds & Grenville, excluding North Grenville & Edwardsburgh.

Attached Commentary / Commentaire ci-joint :

To the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario, My name is Michael Kiefl and I am a resident of the township of South Frontenac, and formerly of the city of Kingston, where I am employed. I am writing to you to discuss your proposed boundaries for the electoral districts in Eastern Ontario, but namely "Gananoque — Brockville — Prescott."

In the five ridings of Central East Ontario, the districts are well-aligned in terms of municipal boundaries & population. The 14 districts allocated for Eastern Ontario & Ottawa, however, show population imbalance & questionable divisions.

For the combined total of the 6 Eastern Ontario and 8 Ottawa districts, the population is 1,676,750, which divided by 14 is 119,767, a minor 2.7% variance above the southern Ontario quota. There is a way to allocate 14 districts near this figure, without disturbing the nearly perfectly-aligned Central East ridings. The proposed districts, range from 109,784 to 127,255, 6% below and 9% above quota, respectfully. I believe the key to improving representation between the districts begins with the proposed "Gananoque - Brockville - Prescott" riding, which I would fall into.

I propose a revised boundary of South Frontenac, Kingston's "Countryside" municipal district, plus the counties Leeds & Grenville, excluding North Grenville & Edwardsburgh/Cardinal. My proposal puts me at odds with others affected in Kingston & Frontenac County, some of whom would prefer the entire City of Kingston contained to one riding (which would be heavily above quota), and for the rest of Frontenac County to retain its North-South alignment in a single electoral district. Unlike these opinions, despite otherwise aligning politically with their proponents, I believe a single district for Kingston does a disservice to that city's voters, and I am not outright opposed to sharing a district with nearby communities along the St Lawrence. While Frontenac County does share a community of interest, there is also somewhat of a community of interest between South Frontenac, the rural areas of Kingston, and the western half of Leeds & Grenville, where less so with Lanark County.

My proposal is a compact compromise that maintains communities of interest, balances population, and allows the same to be improved for the rest of the Eastern Ontario / Ottawa area.

Sincerely,

Michael Kiefl