Comment 139 – comments and feedback
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Penny Lucas, Mayor, Township of Ignace
Dan, please find attached the Resolution passed by Ignace Council at their September 20th, 2022 meeting regarding the electoral boundary changes being proposed by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario.
It is tough enough as it is now amid the cacophony of views from the rest of Ontario to make our voices heard. The vastness of the geography in the current riding making it almost impossible for one person to reach and represent everyone in the riding. Further increase in the land mass area will cause unattainable expectations.
Penny Lucas, Mayor
Township of Ignace
The Corporation of the Township of Ignace
PO Box xxx, xx xxx xx xxxx
Ignace, ON xxx xxx
Telephone: (xxx) xxx-xxxx Fax: (xxx) xxx-xxxx
Motion#: 2022.09.20.201
Date:September 20,2022
Moved by: Cllr. Greg Waldock
Seconded by: Cllr. Shaun Defeo
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 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 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, even though 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;
Now Therefore Be It Resolved that Council of the Corporation of the Township of Ignace opposes the proposed reduction of Northern ridings and representatives; and further;
That the Corporation of the Township of Ignace 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 consideration be given to the uniqueness of Northwestern Ontario, especially smaller municipalities in the north and expanding this boundary provides for further imperiled and underrepresentation by so few seats; and 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.
Voting Results: | Recorded Vote: | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carried | X | Voting Committee Members: | Yes | No | Abstain |
Defeated | Shaun Defeo | ||||
Tabled | Debbie Hart | ||||
Recorded Vote | Penny Lucas | ||||
Pecuniary Interest Declared | Chantelle Tucker | ||||
Withdrawn | Greg Waldock | ||||
Deferred |
Mayor: P Lucas
Penny Lucas