Comment 204 – comments and feedback

Michel Paulin, Chair, Nipissing Timiskaming Federal Liberal Association

Attached you will find a submission to the members of the Federal Electoral Commission for Ontario prepared by the Nipissing Timiskaming Federal Liberal Association. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

Michel Paulin

Chair, Nipissing Timiskaming Federal Liberal Association

 

October 25, 2022

Submission to the Federal Electoral Boundaries (Ontario) Commission

Thank you for the work that has gone into this process. We recognize that creating new boundaries as set out in the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act is no easy task.

In summary, our hearing presentation will speak to Northern Ontario's unique character and challenges and will address the following important considerations we feel will further represent community interests in the region:

• We are surprised by the extent of the reorganization proposed for Northern Ontario, including our riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming, given past boundary reviews recognized the region's unique geographical challenges.
• We have concerns that the people in Northern Ontario will face a significant decrease in their democratic representation should the proposed changes be accepted. The proposal places undue emphasis on population, which in turn negates the level of considerations given to other factors that are outlined in legislation and law, such as geography, manageable geographic size, communities of interest, communities of identity, and the historical pattern of electoral districts.
  • The Supreme Court of Canada found effective representation rather than representation by population as the proper meaning of Section 3 of the Charter (reference – Carter case).
  • Large territorial ridings invariably impact voter equity – for example: access to information, contact with MP, connectivity with communities of interest, minority representation.
• The redistribution proposal to cut representation in the North is contrary to the 2017 electoral boundary changes for Ontario, which recognized the need to add two seats to ensure fair participation for northern residents.
• We are very concerned the proposed changes will further weaken northern residents' ability to obtain effective representation at the federal level of government. It is recognized throughout the country, particularly in smaller provinces and rural areas, that some electoral districts may be unequally populated to ensure voter equity. This principle supports why ridings like several in Northern Ontario have smaller populations than those in more densely populated regions in Ontario.
• In this regard, we respectfully request the Commission move away from the more rigid 15% (+/-) population variance for Northern Ontario toward the legally permitted variance limits of (+/-) 25% to recognize the immense challenges presented by its geographical vastness.
  • For example, Internet access remains inadequate in providing residents reliable access to their elected Member of Parliament.
  • There is an expectation the MP attend local events, which would require an inordinate amount of travel time and in person services available through the Constituency(s) i.e casework.
  • On the ground, the riding must take into account the local demographic and socioeconomic conditions dictating municipal and regional boundaries.
• The proposed changes would also disrupt the intertwined local economies well established within the existing riding boundaries.
• Specifically in relation to our riding, we have concerns about the proposed removal of the portion of the electoral district of Nipissing-Timiskaming, lying north of the Municipality of Temagami based on factors such as:
  • Existing social, economic and identity ties with respect to the Highways 11 corridor and to the Municipality of North Bay, which serves as the primary centre for health, education, and other services for the outlying regions.
  • Established entrenched political and government relations that have been developed since the last boundary redistribution process. Historically, the area north of the Municipality of Temagami has switched back and forth in past redistribution exercises.
• The Temiskaming Shores-North Bay region form a cluster of communities that provide the forum for small businesses and local agencies to pool their resources for longer-term strategic economic planning and investment.
• The linkages between businesses and agencies between Temiskaming Shores and North Bay are instrumental to regional economic progress, mainly in the mining, forestry, tourism and agriculture sectors.
  • For example, regional organizations work together with their federal MP and agencies in organizing events to promote domestic and international relationships and trade, including the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase, which is the largest pavilion at the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's annual conference.
• North Bay is the regional service hub for residents of Temiskaming Shores and south for health and social services referrals, for transportation and for federal government services:
  • The North Bay Regional Health Centre performs critical surgeries and other care services e.g. maternal care, including high-risk pregnancies/deliveries.
  • Airport and rail service is based in North Bay
  • Area OPP and ambulance calls are dispatched from North Bay
  • FedNor services are based in North Bay
• The Temiskaming Shores-North Bay region share demographic and sociological traits with strong cultural and linguistic ties among the First Nations and Francophone communities.
• In relation to proposed changes to the southern part of the electoral district, we have concerns about the proposed addition of a portion of the current electoral district of Parry Sound-Muskoka south of Powassan with the electoral district of Nipissing. The social, economic and identity ties of this portion of Parry Sound-Muskoka, as well as the political and government relations, are more closely linked to Municipalities of Parry Sound and Huntsville.
  • In other words, the social and economic fabric within the cluster of communities south of Powassan would be negatively affected by the disconnection from the established linkages with the Municipalities of Parry Sound and Huntsville.
• We have similar concerns about the proposed addition of a portion of the electoral district of Nickel-Belt, west of the Municipality of West Nipissing, to the proposed electoral district of Nipissing given the social, economic, education, health and identity ties, as well as the political and government relations, are more closely linked to the City of Greater Sudbury.

In conclusion, recognizing the affinities between the communities of interest, the geographic and identity factors, and the transportation and communication challenges, we respectfully ask the Commission to maintain the current electoral representation of Northern Ontario and to ensure any boundary changes are reasonably done in a manner that responds to regional and local needs.

• Northern Ontario deserves to be designated as a community of interest that would merit the variation of (+/-) 25%. To that end, we respectfully request the Commission maintain the status quo in keeping the number of ridings at 10. This may require that at least one seat be extraordinary.
• Finally, we suggest the Commission consider recommending to government to undertake a more comprehensive review of the current electoral formula that addresses Ontario's increasing under-representation in the House of Commons and to bring Canada closer to equality of votes and fairness.

Thank you, Merci, Miigwech for the opportunity to share our comments.

Michel Paulin

President

Nipissing-Timiskaming Federal Liberal Association