Comment 73 – comments and feedback
Back to all comments and feedback from the public
Denis Turcot, CAO, Municipality of St.-Charles
At its Regular Meeting of Council held September 21, 2022, Council for the Corporation of the Municipality of St.-Charles passed the attached Resolution 2022-213.
Council have also indicated their full support for on the following items, copies of which are also attached;
- Open Letter dated August 29, 2022 from Marc Serré – Northern Ontario can't afford to lose a seat in the House of Commons;
- Letter dated September 5, 2022 from FONOM;
- Resolution 2022-08 dated September 8, 2022 of SEMA.
Northern Ontario can't afford to lose a seat in the House of Commons
Marc G. Serré Member of Parliament / Député Nickel Belt August 29th, 2022
As many in the community are already aware, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario is proposing drastic changes to Northern Ontario's electoral districts. The proposal would consolidate 10 electoral districts into nine and expand the borders of the remaining ridings.
Over the past week, I've heard from countless constituents and community stakeholders who have shared their concerns about the proposed changes. I too am gravely concerned that this will mean less effective representation in the House of Commons for years to come.
It's particularly disappointing that the commission divided the rural francophone municipalities of Nickel Belt into the Nipissing and Sudbury ridings.
The changes would see former areas of the Nickel Belt riding (Valley East, Azilda, Chelmsford, Dowling, Onaping Falls, Levac) merge with Elliot Lake, Espanola, Blind River and Manitoulin Island to form a new Manitoulin-Nickel Belt Riding. The communities of Coniston, Garson and Falconbridge would also switch to the Sudbury riding.
Portions of West Nipissing, St Charles and Markstay-Warren would be transferred to the Nipissing riding, with French River and Killarney remaining in Nickel Belt.
While it is true that Northern Ontario has experienced slower population growth than its southern counterpart, the north is the home to several unique communities and the recent 2021 data shows an increase in population.
This includes a culturally rich Francophone population, and over 106 first nations communities, which is a significant chunk of proportion of the 636 First Nations across Canada.
In fact, had the commission rigidly followed the 113,000-population quota, Northern Ontario would have lost an additional representative in the House of Commons. The proposed 9 Federal ridings pale in comparison to Northern Ontario having 12 ridings provincially.
The consequences of having less representation in the north are very real. There will be less federal funding distributed to Northern Ontario ridings through programs such as Canada Summer Jobs, which benefit both local businesses and non-profit organizations, constituency offices will be more difficult to access, and communities will be divided.
These proposed changes are not final. When drastic changes were proposed in 2012, community members effectively voiced their concerns to the commission, and they listened.
However, we must question why the commission has reduced in person public hearings so dramatically. For those living in Greater Sudbury-Nickel Belt, the closest in person consultation would be in Timmins. The accessibility of these hearings have been a particular concern for constituents in the Nickel Belt riding.
The commission has set September 25th, 2022 as the deadline to either make a written comment and to register to appear in person virtually at a public hearing.
I highly encourage community members in the north to speak up about these drastic changes being made to our federal electoral landscape.
Rural Northern Ontario should not lose a voice – your voice matters.
Feedback can be sent to the commission by going here: https://redecoupage-redistribution-2022.ca/com/on/phrg/index_e.aspx. Emails can also be sent to ON@redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca.
Sincerely,
Marc G. Serré M.P. Nickel Belt Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages
Le Nord de l'Ontario ne peut pas se permettre de perdre un siège à la Chambre des communes
Marc G. Serré Member of Parliament / Député Nickel Belt 29 août 2022
Comme de nombreux membres de la communauté le savent déjà, la Commission de délimitation des circonscriptions électorales fédérales pour l'Ontario propose des changements drastiques aux circonscriptions électorales actuelles du Nord de l'Ontario. La proposition regrouperait 10 circonscriptions électorales en neuf et élargirait les frontières des circonscriptions restantes.
Au cours de la dernière semaine, j'ai entendu de nombreux électeurs, électrices et intervenants, intervenantes communautaires qui ont partagé leurs préoccupations concernant les changements proposés. Je crains moi aussi sérieusement que cela se traduira par une représentation moins efficace à la Chambre des communes dans les années à venir. Il est particulièrement décevant que la Commission ait divisé les municipalités rurales et les communautés francophones de Sudbury-Est et la ville du Grand Sudbury de Nickel Belt en 2 circonscriptions voisines, soit Nipissing et Sudbury.
Les dix députés, soi-disant mes collègues du Nord de l'Ontario, avons tenu une rencontre par visioconférence et nous sommes tous unis pour ne pas perdre une voix dans le Nord de l'Ontario.
Les changements proposés feraient en sorte que les anciennes parties de la circonscription de Nickel Belt (Valley East, Azilda, Chelmsford, Dowling, Onaping Falls, Levac) seraient fusionnées avec Elliot Lake, Espanola, Blind River et l'île Manitoulin pour former une nouvelle circonscription de Manitoulin-Nickel Belt. Les collectivités de Coniston, Garson et Falconbridge passeraient également à la circonscription de Sudbury.
Les localités de Nipissing Ouest, St-Charles et de Markstay-Warren seraient transférées à la circonscription de Nipissing tandis que Rivière-des-Français et Killarney demeureraient dans la circonscription de Nickel Belt.
S'il est vrai que le Nord de l'Ontario a connu une croissance plus lente vis-à-vis le Sud de l'Ontario, il demeure que le Nord abrite plusieurs collectivités uniques et les données récentes de 2021 montrent une augmentation de la population. Cela comprend une population francophone culturellement riche et plus de 106 communautés des Premières Nations, ce qui représente une proportion très importante des 636 Premières Nations du Canada.
En fait, si la Commission avait rigoureusement suivi le quota de 113 000 habitants, le Nord de l'Ontario aurait perdu un représentant supplémentaire à la Chambre des communes. Cela se compare au Nord de l'Ontario qui compte 12 circonscriptions à l'échelle provinciale.
Les conséquences d'une moindre représentation dans le Nord sont très réelles. Il y aura moins de financement fédéral distribué aux circonscriptions du Nord de l'Ontario par le biais de programmes comme Emplois d'été Canada (entreprises locales et organismes sans but lucratif), les bureaux de circonscription seront plus difficiles d'accès et les collectivités seront divisées.
Ces modifications proposées ne sont pas définitives. Lorsque des changements drastiques ont été proposés en 2012, les membres de la communauté ont effectivement fait part de leurs préoccupations à la Commission, et ils ont écouté.
Cependant, nous devons nous demander pourquoi la commission a réduit de façon aussi spectaculaire les audiences publiques en personne. Pour ceux qui vivent dans le Grand Sudbury-Nickel Belt, la consultation en personne la plus proche serait à Timmins. L'accessibilité de ces audiences préoccupe particulièrement les électeurs de la circonscription de Nickel Belt.
Cette année, la commission a fixé au 25 septembre 2022 la date limite pour faire un commentaire écrit en ligne ou s'inscrire pour comparaître en personne à une audience publique. J'encourage fortement les membres de la communauté du Nord à parler de ces changements drastiques dans notre paysage électoral.
Les régions rurales du Nord de l'Ontario ne devraient pas perdre une voix – Votre voix compte.
Vos commentaires peuvent être transmis à la Commission en visitant : https://redecoupage-redistribution-2022.ca/com/on/phrg/index_e.aspx. Les courriels peuvent également être envoyés à ON@redecoupage-federalredistribution.ca.
Marc G. Serré Député de Nickel Belt Secrétaire parlementaire du ministre des Langues officielles
FONOM : Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities
September 5, 2022
Federal Electoral Districts Redistribution – Ontario Commission PO Box 37018 Southdale London, Ontario, N6E 3T3 Sent by email: ON@redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca
To Whom It May Concern;
The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) is the unified voice of Northeastern Ontario, representing and advocating on behalf of 110 cities, towns and municipalities. Our mission is to improve the economic and social quality of life for all northerners and to ensure the future of our youth.
As President of FONOM, I want to commend the Commission for adding Indigenous Representation to the Redistribution Plan for Northern Ontario. But I want to share some of my concerns about the Redistribution plan's negative impacts on Northern Ontario. Currently, Northern Ontario has ten Electoral Districts, with the proposed plan reducing that number to eight. FONOM would ask that the Commission retain the current ten Electoral Districts as they are today, plus the planned Indigenous Representation!
Geographically Northern Ontario is quite large. The distance from North Bay to the Manitoba border is 1623 kilometres (the distance from North Bay to Charlottetown is 1693 Kilometres). Your research shows you that the existing ridings are large already. Currently, the Members have a difficult job fairly representing their constituents. The MPs do an admirable job and represent Canada well, but we believe the new alignments will make their efforts even more difficult. FONOM would ask that the Commission retain the current ten Electoral Districts as they are today! Especially in the Northeast as any redistribution will divide our established First Nations, Francophone, and Municipal Associations.
We are also concerned that the planned consultation for Northern Ontario is only in Timmins and virtual. I have real concerns with only one in-person consultation session for a region of the province this realignment covers. This vital consultation is also coinciding with a Municipal Election. As a Municipal Politician running for re-election, I believe that very few individuals will take the time away from campaigning to drive to Timmins for the session on October 11th. The Northern Ontario session is also happening in the middle of the Hunting Season. The timing of the Commission's consultation highlights a further lack of understanding for our part of Ontario. FONOM recommends you increase and extend the consultation in Northern Ontario until January 2023!
Also, I want to mention the Redistribution website is very hard to navigate. We believe anyone using the site to find the impacts on their community would be hard-pressed to get the information they seek. For your information, several web design firms are using focus groups of fifty- and sixty-year olds to beta test interactive websites to ensure their product is user-friendly. FONOM would recommend to the Commission that they ensure they improve upon this platform for the next realignment in 2032.
Thank you.
Danny Whalen President, FONOM
La Corporation de la Municipalité de / The Corporation of the Municipality of ST.-CHARLES
- Moved by:
- Councillor Paul Branconnier
- Seconded by:
- Council Richard Lemieux
Resolution no. 2022-213
Whereas the proposed Federal Electoral Boundary Commission has proposed to remove one of the electoral ridings from Northern Ontario;
And whereas the proposed riding of Manitoulin-Nickel Belt would remove the Municipality of St.-Charles from the current Nickel Belt riding;
And whereas the Commission is not taking into consideration the uniqueness of the Municipality of St.-Charles, including the difficulty in competing for limited amounts of funding. Any changes to the current configuration would exacerbate the situation;
And whereas the Commission did not take into consideration that the current boundary includes a substantial portion of francophone citizens. By removing St.-Charles from Nickel Belt would make it extremely difficult to advocate for our francophone population and would be detrimental for those municipalities being forced into mostly anglophone ridings;
And whereas the proposal to diminish Northern Ontario's voice in Parliament will have detrimental effect on participatory democracy and regional development as issues in Northern Ontario are significantly different than those in Southern Ontario;
And whereas the Electoral Commission did not take under consideration that the Courts have rules 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 representative;
And whereas any changes to electoral boundaries should be based on the principles of maintaining communities of interest within the boundaries that are equitable in terms of culture, language, and geography;
And whereas SEMA (Sudbury East Municipal Association) has a history of working collaboratively on projects and issues in our current riding. lt will be inefficient to separate the work between two (2) Members of Parliament and cause a duplication of work for members of SEMA;
And whereas the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission is seeking public input on its proposed riding boundary changes, yet has scheduled only ONE (1) in person consultation in Northern Ontario to be held in Timmins;
And whereas the Commission should have recognized that the Province of Ontario is in the middle of Municipal Elections;
Be lt therefore resolved that the Corporation of the Municipality of St.-Charles calls on the Electoral Boundary Commission to not reduce the number of MPs for Northern Ontario and it respects the current geographical boundaries for those in Nickel Belt;
And be lt further resolved that the Commission follow its rules and consider our community interest and identity and the historical pattern of our electoral district in the province when determining reasonable electoral district boundaries for our community.
Carried
l, Tammy Godden, Clerk of the Municipality of St.-Charles, do certify the foregoing to be a true copy of Resolution No. 2022-213 passed in a Regular Meeting of Council of The Corporation of the Municipality of St.-Charles on the 21st day of September 2022.
Tammy Godden Clerk Municipality of St.-Charles
Dated this 23rd day of September 2022.
Sudbury East Municipal Association Resolution
- Moved by:
- Renée Carrier
- Seconded by:
- Steve Salonin
- NO.
- 2022-08
- Date:
- September 8, 2022
Whereas the proposed Federal Electoral Boundary Commission has proposed to remove one of the electoral ridings from Northern Ontario; and
Whereas the proposed riding of Manitoulin-Nickel Belt would remove the Municipalities of St. Charles, Markstay-Warren, and West Nipissing from the current Nickel Belt riding; and
Whereas the Municipalities of French Reiver, Killarney, St. Charles, Markstay-Warren, and West Nipissing work together under the umbrella of the Sudbury-East Municipal Association (SEMA) for the betterment of each municipality. Currently SEMA is comprised of one geopolitical entity and any changes would fragment, diminish, and reduce access to federal representation for area residents; and
Whereas the Commission is not taking into consideration the uniqueness of the said municipalities in Sudbury-East including the difficulty in competing for limited amounts of funding. Any changes to the current configuration would exacerbate the situation; and
Whereas the Commission did not take into consideration that the current Sudbury-East boundaries include a substantial portion of francophone citizens. By removing St. Charles, Markstay-Warren and West Nipissing from Nickel Belt would make it extremely difficult to advocate for our francophone population and would be detrimental for those municipalities being forced into mostly anglophone ridings; and
Whereas the proposal to diminish Northern Ontario's voice in Parliament will have detrimental effect on participatory democracy and regional development as issues in Northern Ontario are significant different than those in Southern Ontario; and
Whereas the Electoral Commission did not take under consideration that 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 representative; and
Whereas any changes to electoral boundaries should be based on the principles of maintaining communities of interest within the boundaries that are equitable in terms of culture, language, and geography; and
Whereas SEMA has a history of working collaboratively on projects and issues in our current riding. It will be inefficient to separate the work between two Members of Parliament and cause a duplication work for members of SEMA; and
Whereas the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission is seeking public input on its proposed riding boundary changes, yet has scheduled only ONE in person consultation in Northern Ontario to be held in Timmins;
Therefore be it resolved that SEMA calls on the Electoral Boundary Commission to not reduce the number of MPs for Northern Ontario and it respects the current geographical boundaries for those in Nickel Belt.
And further that the Commission follow its rules and consider our community interest and identity and the historical pattern of our electoral district in the province when determining reasonable electoral district boundaries for our community.
And further that the Commission add an in-person consultation meeting to be held in Sudbury in order for all those residing in Nickel Belt have an opportunity to meet in-person with the Commission.
And further that SEMA recommends that Member Councils adopt a similar resolution.
CARRIED