Comment 17 – comments and feedback

Bill Carman

This afternoon I created an account in order to provide comments on the redistribution of the Ottawa-Vanier and Orleans ridings in the City of Ottawa. I have attempted to do this using your IMT interactive mapping tool, but it is not working properly. I will try again another day, before the deadline; however, in the event that I cannot use this tool, I would like to provide my feedback in this email message.

I am a resident of the community of Blackburn Hamlet in Ottawa. Until now, this community has been part of the federal riding of Orleans. According to the redistribution, it will now be part of the riding of Ottawa-Vanier.

Although this may make sense in terms of population numbers, it does not make sense in terms of demographics. Having lived in Ottawa my entire life, including stints in Vanier, Orleans and now Blackburn Hamlet, I can say with certainty that the communities of Vanier and Blackburn Hamlet are demographically distinct. And, although separated by a thin slice of Greenbelt, Blackburn Hamlet is essentially an arm of the community of Orleans. These two communities share a similar population base and, more importantly, issues and concerns that require political action.

It is my hope that this redistribution can be reconsidered and that Blackburn Hamlet can remain within the federal riding of Orleans.

Thank you,

Bill Carman