Comment 55 – comments and feedback

Arie Hoogenboom

Mayor of Rideau Lakes-Delta

Re: Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes

Dear Ms. Puddy,

I am writing to respectfully express our Council’s strong opposition to the proposed federal electoral boundary change proposed for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

The present riding includes the entirety of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and includes the adjoining separated towns of Brockville, Gananoque, and Prescott. To break up the County by reassigning some municipalities to a different riding, and in one case, actually split a Township between two ridings, is ill-advised in Council’s view. If equalizing population numbers is the goal, the inclusion of the Town of Smith Falls in the Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes riding would be a more logical solution.

The Rideau Canal, Rideau Lakes, Thousand Islands, and St. Lawrence Seaway create a connected geographic boundary which encompasses the municipalities that make up the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, the towns of Gananoque, Prescott, and the City of Brockville. These municipalities are connected by formal economic cooperation and share historical significance, agricultural and rural identity, and a thriving tourism industry based on an abundance of natural beauty and supported by the two ports of entry to the United States.

While acknowledging the difficulty of creating voter parity across Ontario, we respectfully propose that our communities ought to remain united by the county boundary. More modest adjustments to the current boundaries of our electoral district could surely be proposed which would still allow for objective population equality to achieved by the Commission.

In addition, whatever realignment of boundaries results, we respectfully request that “Rideau Lakes” remain a part of the name.

Sincerely,

Arie Hoogenboom, Mayor

Rideau Lakes

At the Regular Meeting of the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Rideau Lakes held Tuesday, 8 September 2022, the following Resolution was passed:

Resolution #110-2022

Moved by: Councillor Lavoie
Seconded by: Councillor Delaney

To pass a Resolution that:

Whereas correspondence was received from MP Michael Barrett regarding the proposal of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission of Ontario on the boundaries of the Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes electoral district;

And whereas the Township of Edwardsburg Cardinal has provided comments in support of having the electoral district remain within the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville boundaries;

Now therefore the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Rideau Lakes supports an electoral district that remains within the boundaries of the County, including the Town of Prescott, City of Brockville and the Town of Gananoque;

And further that if an increase in the population is required to the Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes riding, that consideration be given to adding the separate Town of Smiths Falls;

And further that if changes are made, that the ‘Rideau Lakes’ name by maintained in the new federal riding name.

Carried:
Signed: Arie Hoogenboom, Mayor