Comment 120 – comments and feedback

Mike Johnston

Please see the attached comments from the Manitoulin/North-Shore Federation of Agriculture regarding the proposed federal riding redistribution and its impact on the Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing Riding.

Ms. Paula Puddy

Commission Secretary

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario

PO Box 37018 Southdale

London, Ontario N6E 3T3

September 16, 2022

Re: Proposed Redistribution for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing

Dear Ms. Puddy,

The Manitoulin/North-Shore Federation of Agriculture represents the interests and needs of over 180 farm families in the region. We are concerned with the proposed federal redistribution boundaries, specifically those that will create a new riding of Manitoulin-Nickel Belt and dissolve the existing riding of Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing.

These proposed changes could result in several detrimental impacts to residents, including:

• Inadequate delivery of constituency services in rural areas
• Reducing access to federal funding programs throughout the area, including the loss of Canada Summer Jobs program funding

Further, the proposed composition of Manitoulin-Nickel Belt could dilute the voices and needs of rural residents and rural areas due to the amalgamation of these areas with larger centers. Ensuring rural concerns are considered is important, both within the riding itself and in Ottawa, but this proposed boundary could result in an urban focus, with the MP being unable to equitably represent both rural and urban needs.

This proposed redistribution follows an almost 25% loss of population in the current AMK riding and while the Commission considers this new boundary to be of a manageable geographic size and accessible to due existing road networks, we ask that the unique needs of this area and of Northern Ontario be considered. The Commission can draw boundaries to account for communities of interest or make exceptions for extraordinary circumstances and we ask that the Commission retain the existing boundaries for AMK. This will ensure that the federal representation in this area can represent the rural needs of the North and the unique rural needs of the region itself, rather than risk facing potential conflicts between local rural and urban needs. The opportunities in Northern Ontario are significant, especially with respect to agriculture, secure food production and economic growth, and we need to ensure that our federal representation can equitably represent this area.

Sincerely,

Mike Johnston

Mike Johnston, Chair

Manitoulin/North-Shore Federation of Agriculture