Comment 54 – comments and feedback

Ken Bowering

As a long time resident of Woodlawn, ON (West Carleton), I am strongly opposed to proposed changes to the current riding of Kanata-Carleton -which riding includes West Carleton). It’s my understanding that if the proposed changes go ahead, we will become part of a riding further to the northwest of us.

There are many reasons for my opposition, including the following:

1. West Carleton is part of the city of Ottawa, is part of the National Capital Region. Until a few years ago, we were a separate rural community but provincial legislation amalgamated us - and other rural communities - to be part of Ottawa.
2. So, we pay taxes to Ottawa, including school taxes. We receive emergency services - police, fire, EMT, etc. from Ottawa. And, similarly, our emergency service providers also support those adjacent to us - when needed - such as Kanata.
3. We have bus service out here, provided by OC Transpo (Ottawa).
4. West Carleton, like much of Ottawa, is a farming community. But, in recent years, there’s been considerable population growth in West Carleton as housing developments have been created. I can’t cite numbers, but the non-farming population certainly now far outnumbers the farming population, and these people work, shop, and socialize (restaurants) in Ottawa proper.
5. Our schools - the basis for educating the next generations of Canadians - are part of the Ottawa School system. Those kids who choose to attend colleges or universities, do so in Ottawa.
6. We also tend to shop at stores in Ottawa, at stores like Loblaws, Walmart, Sobey’s, Lowe’s, Home Depot, HBC, etc. The closest community west/northwest of West Carleton is Arnprior, and it doesn’t have any of these stores. So, our money is spent in Ottawa areas such as Kanata, Bayshore, etc.

If we were to become part of an Arnprior/Renfrew riding, we’d be like the tail on the dog. At least, the way it is, in the greater Ottawa are, we’re one of several rural communities and there’s synergy amongst all areas.

In summary, government (albeit provincial) has made our region (West Carleton) to be part of a large municipal region - Ottawa. The proposed federal riding realignment would be divisive in that it would associate our region away from Ottawa and towards another region which we don’t have any affiliation with whatsoever.

We live, work, get educated, and benefit from the services Ottawa offers. And we want to stay as part of that community - municipally, provincially, and federally.

Sincerely,

Ken Bowering