Comment 5 – comments and feedback

Noah Chafe

My name is Noah Chafe, A young constituent from the present-day Hamilton East-Stoney Creek riding. I have taken concern with the redistribution commission's decision of the inclusion of most of the Town of Grimsby into the new riding. Here are some issues if have identified with its inclusion:

a) Grimsby is located in the jurisdiction of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, while the majority of the riding would be situated within the City of Hamilton. This decision would cause Grimsby and its residents to become isolated from the rest of their regional jurisdiction, as well as disadvantage these Canadians from being prioritized for federal funding projects etc. due to most of the constituents and their respective needs being placed with the City of Hamilton.

b) The addition of Grimsby would cause large swaths of the East Hamilton portion of the current riding to be eliminated. This leaves only a few neighborhoods in East Hamilton within this new riding, effectively cutting them off politically from even their closest neighbours. This would hinder the chances for the residents of East Hamilton to be able to effectively advocate for themselves on the federal level in a united manner.

c) The new riding, stretching over 25 km in length, means that the office of the Member of Parliament (with the majority of constituents residing in Stoney Creek) could be located up to a 20 minutes drive from residents in Grimsby seeking assistance with issues of federal jurisdiction. Additonally, due to the lack of public transit between Grimsby and the rest of the riding, certain residents may experience barriers in being able to access federal assistance based on their socio-economic class and mobility needs. This system is not equitable and contradicts the federal government's goals of greater equality and inclusion amongst Canadians.

Therefore, I proposed that the boundaries of a revised riding completely within the jurisdiction of the City of Hamilton be created as follows:

Commencing at the Niagara Regional Border, following the Lake Ontario Shoreline to the Burlington Canal. Then continue alongside the eastern shore of Hamilton Harbour to Nikola Tesla Boulevard. Then follow the alignment of the Queen Elizabeth Way to the Red Hill Valley Parkway. Following the Red Hill Valley Parkway to Pritchard Road, and then Pritchard Road to Rymal Road. Rymal Road to Trinity Church Road. Trinity Church Road to the Hydro Transmission Line. Transmission line to Highway 56. Follow Highway 56 to Highway 20 in Elfrida, along Highway 20 to Hamilton-West Lincoln Border. Finally following the Hamilton-Niagara Border to the Lake Ontario Shoreline.

The Town of Grimsby would be transferred back to Niagara West riding. The City of Thorold would be redistributed to Niagara Centre to account for this change.

Thank you greatly, and I hope you consider this proposal to strength the integrity of our Democratic processes.

Noah Chafe