Commentaire 139 – commentaires et rétroaction

Penny Lucas, Mayor, Township of Ignace

Dan, please find attached the Resolution passed by Ignace Council at their September 20th, 2022 meeting regarding the electoral boundary changes being proposed by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario.

It is tough enough as it is now amid the cacophony of views from the rest of Ontario to make our voices heard. The vastness of the geography in the current riding making it almost impossible for one person to reach and represent everyone in the riding. Further increase in the land mass area will cause unattainable expectations.

Penny Lucas, Mayor

Township of Ignace

The Corporation of the Township of Ignace

PO Box xxx, xx xxx xx xxxx

Ignace, ON xxx xxx

Telephone: (xxx) xxx-xxxx Fax: (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Motion#: 2022.09.20.201

Date:September 20,2022

Moved by: Cllr. Greg Waldock

Seconded by: Cllr. Shaun Defeo

Whereas the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Ontario has proposed a new electoral map that would cut the number of federal election districts in northern Ontario from ten to nine; and

Whereas the Constitution of Canada requires that the federal elector districts be reviewed every ten years; and

Whereas the most significant change would see the two largest ridings in the far north, Kenora and Timmins-James Bay, amended and combined into one massive riding called Kiiwetinoong-Mushkegowuk, spanning from the Manitoba border to Quebec, and Kenora's current riding boundary readjusted dramatically and combined with Thunder Bay-Rainy River with further significant changes to the Thunder Bay-Superior North and Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing boundaries; and

Whereas the land mass size of the new Kenora-Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding would make it virtually ungovernable, and ultimately infringe on the democratic rights of northerners; and

Whereas our region has diverse and unique interests which are quite different from one another and deserve adequate diverse representation in Ottawa; and

Whereas the legislation would in fact support, according to the population quota to be applied by the Commission, a reduction of two, even though the commission has recommended one; and

Whereas the Kenora District was deemed an "extraordinary circumstance" in 2012 during the last boundary review, and because of which it was not revised at that time;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that Council of the Corporation of the Township of Ignace opposes the proposed reduction of Northern ridings and representatives; and further;

That the Corporation of the Township of Ignace calls upon the Federal Electoral Boundary Commission to consider the vast land mass that already exists within our electoral boundary and refrain from extending any boundary which reduces northern ridings and representatives; and further

That consideration be given to the uniqueness of Northwestern Ontario, especially smaller municipalities in the north and expanding this boundary provides for further imperiled and underrepresentation by so few seats; and further

That copies of this resolution be forwarded to Eric Melillo, MP Kenora Riding, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario, the Kenora District Municipal Association, the Rainy-River District Municipal Association and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.

Voting results

Voting Results:		Recorded Vote:
Carried	X	Voting Committee Members:	Yes	No	Abstain
Defeated		Shaun Defeo
Tabled		Debbie Hart
Recorded Vote		Penny Lucas
Pecuniary Interest Declared		Chantelle Tucker
Withdrawn		Greg Waldock
Deferred

Mayor: P Lucas

Penny Lucas