Comment 189 – comments and feedback

Steven Offer

Dear Committee Members

Preamble

I am pleased to provide my input on the suggested riding redistribution specific to the Town of Oakville.

I wish to extend my very best wishes as you deliberate on these matters of crucial importance to the residents of affected ridings.

Introduction

My name is Steven Offer and I am a resident of the Town of Oakville. I moved to Oakville from the City of Mississauga in 2014. While residing in Mississauga and from 1985-1995, I was honoured to serve as the Member of Provincial Parliament for the then riding of Mississauga North.s (west of Guelph Line, south of Dundas Street, east of Kearns Road, east of King Road and north of the Queen Elizabeth Way) to a new riding of Burlington — Milton West. During that period of time, I assumed additional roles and responsibilities by serving as the Parliamentary Assistant to what was then called the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General and then as Solicitor-General.

My comment to this proposal is couched with a personal historical perspective as I participated in a provincial redistribution process while serving as a Member of Provincial Parliament.

In 1985, the riding of Mississauga North was undergoing significant growth and was in the top 5 provincial districts in terms of population. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, and just prior to redistribution, my riding captured 93,000 voters. For matters of comparison the Province of Prince Edward Island had a total population of 93,000 individuals. This, of course, was a daunting task for one constituency office staffed by 2 persons.

As noted above, it is within this context that I wish you well in this exercise.

Representation

I congratulate all who now serve in Parliament and those that seek to serve. It is a noble endeavour. And I do so, recognizing that final decisions will impact on the provincial electoral map in the Province of Ontario.

My compliments extend not only to existing federal members, but also provincial and municipal representatives and those that seek to serve in this capacity.

Addressing issues of immediate concern is never-ending for our representatives. Added to the issues of the day are those challenges that await around the political corner-- unknown at this time but are issues of the future.

I should confess in the spirit of full transparency that I have no aspiration of returning to elected office. As I approach my 73rd birthday, my time has passed. However, it is my perspective that I wish to share with members of this Committee.

Position

I am certain that much of the input in response to this initial proposal will be sensitive to future political fortunes. I do not criticize this practical position but rather acknowledge it is the great unspoken catalyst for comment. When I went through a redistribution my position was certainly sensitive to this issue.

However, my position is not based on this unspoken but valid point. Rather my position is founded on the complexity of representation and current and expected growth in the affected areas. I understand that Oakville's current population is approximately 225,000 persons, with considerable growth expected in coming years. I further understand that Federal ridings are intended to encompass nearly 116,500 voters each, with the possibility of up to a 25 per cent variance. Additionally, I believe Burlington will, as well, experience significant growth.

In the proposal at hand there is a blending of representation of two towns, Oakville and Burlington. I do not believe that a federal and consequently provincial redistribution should blend two significant municipalities.

Both areas are in a growth mode. As growth continues, new issues will emerge. History teaches us there will be emerging provincial and federal issues with municipal impact. It should not come as a surprise that the interests promoted by Oakville and Burlington may be at odds with one another. Combining federal ridings that touch upon both municipalities will place the elected representative in a conflicted position. This potential yet anticipated reality should not be entrenched as is proposed in this plan of redistribution.

Effective representation of the people of any riding is an increasingly challenging task. Overlaying the reality of political party positions increase this challenge.Unsaid but true. To layer an inherent conflict erodes effective representation over two very distinct municipal borders This must be avoided.

Our elected officials have large enough challenges and workloads without having to balance the inevitability of choosing the interests of the residents of one area over another.

I acknowledge the Town of Oakville has tabled their concerns. I disagree with their revised suggestion, but I agree with the fundamentals upon which the recommendation was made.

In essence, one cannot combine representing two growing Towns into one Federal riding which will only be exacerbated with the adoption of your proposal by the Ontario Provincial Government.

Conclusion

I conclude by wishing you well in this review. Fundamentally I cannot accept the proposals for the reasons stated above. There is an unfairness to the residents of both the Town of Oakville and those of Burlington and to those men and women who currently hold office and those who will seek office in the future.

All of which, is respectfully submitted.

Steven Offer