Comment 152 – comments and feedback

Shara Lavallee, CAO/Clerk, Township of Conmee, Kakabeka Falls, ON

Please see the attached resolution regarding the proposed changes to the Northern Ontario Federal Electoral Districts.

RE: Federal Electoral Boundaries

At the September 15th 2022 regular council meeting, the following resolution was carried:

Resolution No: 2022-151

Moved by: Councillor Arnold

Seconded by: Councillor MacMaster

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

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that Council of the Township of Conmee strongly opposes the proposed reduction of Northern ridings and representatives; and further

That the Township of Conmee 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

And that copies of this resolution be sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; the

Electoral Boundary Commission; Hon. Patty Hajdu; Minister of Health; Kevin Holland, MPP – Thunder Bay-Atikokan and all Northern Ontario MPPs; all Northern Ontario MPs; and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.

Carried

Sincerely,

S Lavallee

Shara Lavallee, CAO/Clerk