Comment 16 – comments and feedback

Iqra Khalid (MP Mississauga—Erin Mills)

Executive Summary:

Every ten years, the Canadian Constitution's Representation Formula requires that federal electoral districts be reviewed in order to reflect changes in the country's population.

This includes a redistribution of the Mississauga—Erin Mills federal electoral district.

Background:

The Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, 1985 sets out the establishment of an electoral boundaries commission where each electoral district must correspond as close as possible to the quota for that province (population divided by the number of Members of Parliament in that province).

The Commission must consider community–based interests in their determinations including but not limited to geography, identity and the historical patterns of the electoral district itself.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario is holding public hearings to solicit feedback on the proposed boundary changes, including Mississauga—Erin Mills.

MississaugaErin Mills Boundary Change Counterproposals:

"Thank you for the work that has gone into this proposal, here are some important considerations and counter proposals we feel will further represent community interests in the region."

Counterproposals and Considerations:

• Under the new proposed boundaries, the City of Mississauga is not divided up into the region, which is a positive reflection for the Mississauga community. It makes advocacy and engagement with local leadership more natural and targeted.
• As the commission must consider community interests, it must be noted that the new proposed boundaries draw an unnatural boundary through the middle of the Churchill Meadows Community. This community is housed within the block created by Ninth Line, Britannia Road, Winston Churchill Blvd, and Eglinton Avenue. North of Britannia Road is the natural home of the Lisgar Community. The proposed new boundary is drawn at Thomas Street, which places the top third of the Churchill Meadows community in the new riding of Mississauga—Meadowvale. This has the impact of lumping that third of the community into what is known as the Lisgar community. The current proposal unnaturally divides the community of Churchill Meadows into two separate electoral districts, affecting the character, identity and effective representation of those residents. This proposed divide is not only geographic; it also represents a cultural, social, religious, demographic and architectural divide that affects the common identity of the community and its residents. By dividing the community in this way, the commission risks the breaking up of the Churchill meadows community and disrupting the Lisgar community. Therefore, it is proposed that the natural community boundary be maintained as shown in green outline in the map below.

Current proposed redistribution

Counterproposal to proposed redistribution