Comment 58 – comments and feedback

Jody Davis, Mayor of the Township of Terrance Bay

Dear Ms. Hajdu,

At the Township of Terrace Bay Regular Council Meeting held on Monday September 19, 2022, the following resolution was passed.

Re: Federal Electoral Boundaries

Resolution: 249-2022 Moved By: Councillor P. Malashewski Seconded By: Councillor R. St. Louis

RESOLVED THAT

Whereas the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Ontario has proposed a new electoral map that would cut the number of federal election districts in northern Ontario from ten to nine; and

Whereas the Constitution of Canada requires that the federal elector districts be reviewed every ten years; and

Whereas the most significant change would see the two largest ridings in the far north, Kenora and Timmins-James Bay, amended and combined into one massive riding called KiiwetinoongMushkegowuk, spanning from the Manitoba border to Quebec, and Kenora's current riding boundary readjusted dramatically and combined with Thunder Bay-Rainy River with further significant changes to the Thunder Bay-Superior North and Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing boundaries; and

Whereas the land mass size of the new Kenora-Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding would make it virtually ungovernable, and ultimately infringe on the democratic rights of northerners; and

Whereas our region has diverse and unique interests which are quite different from one another and deserve adequate diverse representation in Ottawa; and

Whereas the legislation would in fact support, according to the population quota to be applied by the Commission, a reduction of two, but the commission has recommended one; and

Whereas the Kenora District was deemed an ?extraordinary circumstance? in 2012 during the last boundary review, and because of which it was not revised at that time; and NOW

Therefore be it resolved that Council of the Corporation of the Township of Terrace Bay strongly opposes the proposed reduction of Northern ridings and representatives; and further

That the Township of Terrace Bay calls upon the Federal Electoral Boundary Commission to consider the vast land mass that already exists within our electoral boundary and refrain from extending any boundary which reduces northern ridings and representatives; and further

That further consideration be given to the uniqueness of Northwestern Ontario, especially smaller municipalities in the north and expanding this boundary provides for further imperiled and underrepresented by so few seats; and further

That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Hon. Patty Hajdu MP Thunder Bay? Superior North, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario, the Kenora District Municipal Association, the Rainy-River District Municipal Association, the Thunder Bay District Municipal Association, and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.

Carried

Sincerely,

J. Davis, Mayor

cc: Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission of Ontario Kenora District Municipal Association Rainy-River District Municipal Association Thunder Bay District Municipal Association Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association