Comment 180 – comments and feedback
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Eric Bizier, Clerk, Municipality of Val Rita-Harty
Corporation
de la municipality de of the tows ship of
Val Rita – Harty
Telephone (xxx) xxx-xxxx Fax (xxx) xxx-xxxx • x xxxxxx xx xxxxxx • C.P. 1.00 • VAL EITA, Ont. xxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xx
October 3, 2022
Carole Hughes, MP
Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing
Dear Ms. Hughes,
At the council meeting of September 27, 2022, the Council of the Municipality of Val Rita-Harty adopted a resolution that supports your efforts to maintain the electoral representation of Northern Ontario.
Attached you will find a copy of the resolution adopted.
Sincerely,
Eric Bizier
Eric Bizier - Clerk
Corporation of the Municipality of Val Rita-Harty
Resolution #: 22-133
Date: 2022-09-27
Proposed by: Carole Lessard
Seconded by: Angele Beauvais
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 the council of the Municipality of Val Rita-Harty 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
Eric Bizier
Eric Bizier - Clerk