Commentaire 236 – commentaires et rétroaction

Michael Barrett

Dear Commissioners,

At your request and in follow up to my presentation to the Commission of October 26, 2022, please accept my written submission.

The riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes currently has a population of 104,070 which is 10.74 percentage points off the quota. The proposed riding of Gananoque-Brockville-Prescott will have a population of 113,266 which is 2.85 percentage points off the quota.

While this proposal brings the riding closer to the quota, it does so by dividing communities of interest and departs from natural boundaries. I would like to suggest two scenarios that will achieve the goal of voter parity and moving the riding closer to the quota, while keeping more communities of interest intact and respecting natural boundaries.

Scenario One:

East of the Cataraqui River and south of the 401 could be added to the current riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes taking the population up to 117,000 and putting it under one percentage point off of the quota, while maintaining communities of interest and natural boundaries. These proposed changes would take the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston to a population of 111,000 which is five percentage points off the quota and would take the riding of Kingston and the Islands to a population of 112,000 which is four percentage points off the quota.

Scenario Two:

The separated municipality of Smith's Falls could be added to the current riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes taking the population up to 113,000 and putting it within three percentage points of the quota while maintaining communities of interest and natural boundaries. This proposed change would take the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston to a population of 102,000 which is 13 percentage points off the quota with room to grow. By adding the area East of the Cataraqui River and south of the 401 to the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, the population moves to 125,000 which is seven percentage points off the quota.

There has been widespread community support for maintaining the current boundaries of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. Over 90% of respondents to my office were opposed to the proposed changes to Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes and wished to see the current boundaries remain as close to their current form as possible.

Once again, thank you for your continued work. Please reach out to my office directly should you have any questions or seek further clarification.

Sincerely,
Michael Barrett, M.P.
Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes