Commentaire 69 – commentaires et rétroaction

Darquise Robinson, Mayor of the Township of Red Rock

Re: Motion Against Proposed Reduction of Northern Ridings and Representatives

At its Regular Meeting of Council held on September 19th, 2022, the Township of Red Rock Council approved the following resolution regarding the proposed reduction of northern ridings and representatives:

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

Whereas the Commission has proposed a new electoral map for consideration at public hearings commencing in September 2022; and,

Whereas the Commission has proposed a new electoral map for consideration at public hearings commencing in September 2022; and,

Whereas the proposal would see the two largest ridings in the far north, Kenora and Timmins-James Bay, amended and combined into one massive riding called Kiiwetinoong-Mushkegowuk, 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 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 [a reduction of] one; and,

Whereas the Commission itself concluded any "further reduction in the number of districts in the north would imperil the principle of effective representative in this part of the province, considering its widely dispersed population and communities of interest"; and,

Whereas the Kenora district was deemed on "extraordinary circumstance" in 2012 during the last boundary review, and because of which it was not revised at the time; and,

Whereas the boundary proposal, if approved, would reduce the overall number of Northern Federal representatives in the House of Commons, further diluting the voice of Northern Ontario residents on federal matters, and in the Commission's own words, would "imperil the principle of effective representation"; and,

Whereas the voice of the North in the House of Commons is already imperilled and underrepresented by so few seats; Now, therefore be it resolved that the Township of Red Rock strongly opposes the proposed reduction of Northern ridings and representatives.

Further, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to Eric Melillo, MP Kenora Riding, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario, the Kenora District Municipal Association, the Rainy-River District Municipal Association and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, Patty Hadju, MP Thunder Bay-Superior North, Lise Vaugeois, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North.

Attached for your information is a copy of the resolution.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Regards,

Mark Figliomeni Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Township of Red Rock

Township of red rock

Moved by: Muir. Seconded by: McDonald Date: September 19, 2022 Res. no.: 4

Be it resolved that

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

Whereas the Commission has proposed a new electoral map for consideration at public hearings commencing in September 2022; and,

Whereas the Commission has proposed a new electoral map for consideration at public hearings commencing in September 2022; and,

Whereas the proposal would see the two largest ridings in the far north, Kenora and Timmins-James Bay, amended and combined into one massive riding called Kiiwetinoong-Mushkegowuk, 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 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 [a reduction of] one; and,

Whereas the Commission itself concluded any "further reduction in the number of districts in the north would imperil the principle of effective representative in this part of the province, considering its widely dispersed population and communities of interest"; and,

Whereas the Kenora district was deemed on "extraordinary circumstance" in 2012 during the last boundary review, and because of which it was not revised at the time; and,

Whereas the boundary proposal, if approved, would reduce the overall number of Northern Federal representatives in the House of Commons, further diluting the voice of Northern Ontario residents on federal matters, and in the Commission's own words, would "imperil the principle of effective representation"; and,

Whereas the voice of the North in the House of Commons is already imperilled and underrepresented by so few seats;

Now, therefore be it resolved that the Township of Red Rock strongly opposes the proposed reduction of Northern ridings and representatives.

Further, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to Eric Melillo, MP Kenora Riding, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario, the Kenora District Municipal Association, the Rainy-River District Municipal Association and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, Patty Hadju, MP Thunder Bay-Superior North, Lise Vaugeois, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North.

For: 5 Against: 0

Mayor's Signature