Comment 231 – comments and feedback

Jason Veltri

See attached.

September 22, 2022

Submission regarding the Northern Ontario riding boundary changes – Northern Ontario

Good day, Commission Members

My name is Jason Veltri and I live within the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding boundaries, and I write to you today to offer my thoughts and practical solutions to the concerns raised in Thunder Bay and Northern Ontario regarding proposed changes by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission.

I start with my appreciation for your work and understand it is no easy task. With that said, I am against the proposed changes, and I offer my constructive ideas to provide equitable access to elected representatives.

First, Thunder Bay-Rainy River is already an expansive riding, with small towns and larger centers in Thunder Bay and Fort Frances. I do not support the further expansion of this riding; it already is hard enough for elected officials to get from one end to the other within 6 hours and adding in another major centre like Kenora will further dilute the availability of your M.P to be present.

I propose that Kenora be renamed to include Kiiwetinoong, providing increased visibility to the Indigenous populations and history of the region. This is using the principals of Truth and Reconciliation and ensuring in a good way representation for the far north in Northern Ontario.

Secondly, I propose that Timmins – James Bay remain to ensure fair and reasonable representation for the remote nature of this riding. I would extend the same principals as Kenora, renaming to Timmins – James Bay with the addition of Musgkegowuk to the name. I believe that the principals of Mutual trust, respect and reciprocity through truth and reconciliation must be the foundation of the commissions work to ensure proper representation and accessible leadership from elected officials without reducing the number of Northern Ontario ridings.

Population density is different in the north than our friends in southern Ontario or other more densely populated area, and with that should be viewed separately, through a Northern Ontario lens of fair access and needs. The North deserves equitable access to leadership and equitable access to proper representation in the House of Commons. Less voices serves to fracture an already tittering democracy and will further alienate voters in the north with less representation than more.

My hope is that the commission, along with those in the North, including real and robust Indigenous consultation take place to find consensus to move forward without reducing the number of representatives the north has. The north is unique and special and deserves fairness and equity. We are not the GTA or other densely populated areas in Canada. Northern Ontario is a beautiful place to live, work and play and rightly deserves its voice in the House of Commons.

Thank you in advance for your hard and meaningful work of listening to our concerns and I wish you well in helping shape the future of our ridings and representation.

Best Regards,

Jason Veltri

Jason Veltri (he/him) Thunder Bay-Superior North 807.358.3007 xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.ca