Comment 115 – comments and feedback

Peter van Vloten

I am writing to you after recently becoming aware of the proposed realignment of the Wellington - Halton Hills electoral boundaries. As a thirty year resident of Center Wellington, one of the two largest population centres of the current riding, I have for some time been concerned about the fragmentation of the riding. Much of the fragmentation is because Wellington - Halton Hills surrounds the City of Guelph. As a result the part of our riding north of Guelph, ie. Centre Wellington, is geographically separated from the south part, ie Puslinch.

However the fragmentation is not only geographic. There is also very little socio-economic connection between these two parts of the riding. Puslinch is much more closely aligned with the south end of Guelph. Center Wellington is much more closely aligned with the north end of Guelph.

Realignment of the riding boundaries provides an opportunity to reduce this fragmentation by including the south part of our riding in the south part of Guelph and connecting part of the north end of Guelph to the north part of Wellington - Halton Hills riding.

However. The proposed realignment does the exact opposite since it proposes to include part of the south end of Guelph with our riding. This augments the fragmentation which we already experience.

For the benefit of the citizens, especially of both Guelph and Centre Wellington, I encourage you to reconsider the proposed realignment. A much more logical and democratically sound option is to align Puslinch with the south end of Guelph and make it part of the Guelph riding while including part of the north end of Guelph with the riding of Wellington - Halton Hills.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Peter vV