Comment 176 – comments and feedback

Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands

Box xxx, Little Current, Ontario, xxx xxx

xxx-xxx-xxxx

September 28, 2022

Carol Hughes, MP xxx xxxxxxxx xx x Elliot Lake, On xxx xxx

Dear Ms. Hughes, MP

Thank you for coming and addressing our Council in regard to the situation and realignment of the Electoral Boundaries.

The Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands has passed the following motion in hopes of having this decision voided.

Resolution No. 200-09-2022

Moved by: B. Baker

Seconded by: D. Orr

Whereas, the Electoral Boundary Commission has proposed to remove one of the electoral ridings from Northern Ontario; and

Whereas, the proposal to diminish Northern Ontario's voice in Parliament will have a detrimental effect on participatory democracy and regional development as the issues in Northern Ontario are significantly different than the issues facing the urban south) and

Whereas, the Federal Boundary Commission proposal to cut representation in the north is contrary to the 2017 electoral boundary changes for Ontario that recognized the need to add two seats to ensure fair participation for northern residents; and

Whereas, many of the existing ridings in Northern Ontario are already larger than many European countries, a situation that will only be worsened by the addition of massively new regions to service; and

Whereas, the proposed new super ridings will force municipalities to compete for a limited amount of riding funding which will further exacerbate inequities in the north; and

Whereas, Northern Ontario's population per riding is already much higher than many other rural and isolated regions in Canada's north; and

Whereas, the courts have ruled that representation in Canada's democracy is not based merely on population but on regions of interest and the right of citizens to engage with their elected representatives; and

Whereas, any changes to electoral boundaries should be based on the principles of maintaining communities of interest within boundaries that are equitable in terms of population and geography

Now, therefore be it resolved that this Council calls on the Electoral

Boundary Commission to maintain the electoral representation of Northern Ontario and ensure that any boundary changes are done in a manner that responds to regional and local need.

Carried