Comment 61 – comments and feedback

Marie-France Lalonde

Please find attached a summary report to express my position and share some concerns and feedback for your attention regarding the new proposed boundaries and electoral district of Orléans.

I had the utmost pleasure of representing this diverse, united community since 2014 and I hope my comments will be taken into consideration as the Commission is doing public consultations.

Sincerely,

Marie-France Lalonde
Member of Parliament | Députée fédérale
Orléans

POSITION ON THE PROPOSED REDISTRIBUTION OF THE DISTRICT OF ORLÉANS

Submitted to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario

 By  Marie-France Lalonde,  M.P. Députée,  Orléans, Septembre 25, 2022
Ottawa

Preamble

This submission recommends the status quo of the boundaries for the electoral district of Orleans. I would like to hereby submit my objection, per section 22 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act (‘’EBRA”).

Elections Canada's Redistribution Proposal

Elections Canada's proposal calls for the dismantling of the riding of Orleans by removing 3 key residential geographic areas from its united community.

Argument

Demographic credibility

In light of the 2021 census data compiled, the existing electorate district of Orleans has a population of 139,309 corresponding to a deviation from quota of 19.49%. On the other hand, the redistribution proposed by Elections Canada would have the effect of removing 12,647 persons to the electoral district of Orleans. This will bring the population to 126,662 representing a deviation from quota of 8.64%.

As we understand the need of reviewing electoral district to reflect the growth of communities, it is not accurate to affirm that larger district is underrepresented due to a population above the Quota.

Re: Table 9A -The Commission noted that these three districts Carleton, Nepean, and Orleans are underrepresented with populations that are, respectively, 12.7%, 13.9% and 19.5% above the Quota.

The demographic difference between the existing electoral district and the proposed electoral district is solely based on the population percentage.

We know that Orleans have seen one of the largest growths in the Ottawa region. It is true that, by adopting the alternative redistribution proposal, the electoral district of Orleans would become less populous but it does not mean that it cannot be sustainable and feasible since it will continue to meet the redistribution criteria of Elections Canada –

While the maximum and minimum deviations allowed are set at 25% in subsection 15(2) of EBRA, maintaining the current boundaries would not result in a 25% or more deviation above the electoral quotient. Currently, if our boundaries were to remain the same, the deviation would be of 19.49% - well under the 25% limit.

We are objecting to the proposed redistribution The Commission are we calculating the impact on the tree districts that are been proposed to go to three other electoral districts.

Strengthening Neighbourhood Identities

The riding of Orleans currently includes several neighbourhoods which the following three are being completely removed from its boundaries in the proposed redistribution- Blackburn Hamlet (southern west boundary)- Cardinal Village (eastern north boundary) and Carlsbad Springs (southern boundary).
Orleans is a proud suburban community. The natural affiliation of these neighbourhoods is Orleans.

As mentioned by Councillor Dudas in her letter we are attaching to this submission, the community of Blackburn Hamlet would notably be cut off from the rest of Orleans

When you speak to residents of Blackburn Hamlet, they will tell you they have seen the whole area change and become larger as one. Ottawa-Vanier was another world, and it still is. They have grown along with the Orleans area and what affected Orleans affected the residents of Blackburn. They looked east not west. Whether it be for activities, shopping, schools or leisure, residents of Blackburn Hamlet share an important sense of belonging to Orleans that would be lost in this readjustment

The same can be said for the whole neighbourhood east of Trim Rd - Cardinal Village- they go west into the Orleans community to get services, to do their groceries, do activities, get health care and send their child to school, go to festivals etc.

This division of the landscape towards an urban landscape, which is often referred to as the "urban divide," is a major concern for the community of Orleans. We live as one proud suburban community.

On a more service centered aspect, the distance to travel to see their municipal, provincial, and federal representatives are closer than those of their proposed new representative elected officials of Ottawa-Vanier, Prescott-Russell and approximatively the same for Carleton.

Just to put in perspective, Orleans as a community will also see some important institutions cut off and going to Ottawa-Vanier with the new proposed redistribution: The Orleans Fruits Farm, a longstanding agricultural site that is close to the hearts of many in Orleans, White Sand Golf Course and the RCMP Technical Operations, the only Federal government institution situated along St-Joseph Boulevard, West of Youville Drive. Orleans will also be cut off of the only Francophone High School with a sport program, l’École secondaire publique Louis Riel on Bearbrook as well as the oldest soccer club – the Gloucester Hornets Soccer Club.

I acknowledge that special care was also given to maintain Orléans’ Francophone community intact. However, it must be said that both the communities of Carlsbad Springs and Cardinal Village boast of an important Francophone presence – and both would be absorbed by neighbouring constituencies.

Simplifying Community Relations

Elections Canada's proposed redistribution would make it more difficult for neighbourhood issues to be represented on the federal political stage as well as on the provincial and municipal stages.

What about the new municipal ward boundaries in the east end of Ottawa...? Isn’t ironic and confusing that Innes Ward which includes all of the Blackburn Hamlet sector going to Ottawa-Vanier is now called Orleans -East Innes Ward and the Cardinal Village sector east of Trim going to Prescott-Russell now Orleans Est-Cumberland Ward all bear the name of Orléans....

This is another argument that confirms that all the neighbourhoods that shape Orleans identifies themselves as one unique community where you can you work, live and play.

Conclusion

Based on the arguments presented in this submission, the status quo of the electoral districts is superior to Elections Canada's proposal because it:

• Reinforces ward identities in federal electoral representation;
• Preserves the identity of all neighbourhoods that shape the Orleans District
• Preserves the southwestern, northeastern and southern boundary of the riding ;
• Responds to the sense of belonging of the three neighbourhoods affected
• Simplifies relations with municipal authorities and community organizations;
• Meets the demographic criteria of Elections Canada;

Thank you for taking this important request into consideration in the production of the Commission's final report for Ontario.

Table 9A – Ottawa Existing Electoral Districts

Electoral Districts	Population – 2011	Deviation from Quota – 2012	Population – 2021	Deviation from Quota – 2022
Carleton	89,522	-15.72%	131,375	12.68%
Kanata—Carleton	100,846	-5.05%	116,651	0.05%
Nepean	104,775	-1.35%	132,769	13.88%
Orléans	119,247	12.27%	139,309	19.49%
Ottawa Centre	113,619	6.97%	126,360	8.38%
Ottawa South	121,894	14.76%	125,090	7.29%
Ottawa—Vanier	110,999	4.51%	118,806	1.90%
Ottawa West—Nepean	111,881	5.34%	116,409	-0.16%
Average	109,098	2.72%	125,846	7.94%
Range (most populous to least populous)	32,372	30.48 pp	22,900	19.65 pp

pp = percentage points
Significant redrawing was required, given the large deviations from the Quota in the suburban area comprised of the existing districts of Carleton, Nepean, and Orléans. The Commission noted that these three districts are underrepresented with populations that are, respectively, 12.7%, 13.9% and 19.5% above the Quota. The proposed boundary changes bring these districts closer to the Quota.

The most notable change concerns ORLÉANS, where an adjustment to the southern boundary, pushing it up towards the Ottawa River, will bring its population much closer to parity with surrounding districts.

Population growth in the existing districts of Nepean and Carleton necessitates further boundary changes that in turn impact the existing district of Kanata—Carleton. The Commission proposes shifting the boundaries of the proposed district of KANATA to the east to address these disparities.

The Commission has endeavoured to respect the interests of the Francophone community by ensuring that their representation in the proposed districts of ORLÉANS, OTTAWA—VANIER and OTTAWA SOUTH are not diluted.

Details of the Proposed Redistribution Plan           48

The new deviations from the Quota in the proposed redistribution plan are shown in Table 9B.

Table 9B – Ottawa Proposed Electoral Districts

Electoral Districts	Population ‒ 2021	Deviation from Quota ‒ 2022
Carleton	119,737	2.70%
Kanata	121,458	4.18%
Nepean	122,229	4.84%
Orléans	126,662	8.64%
Ottawa Centre	118,950	2.02%
Ottawa South	125,075	7.28%
Ottawa—Vanier	127,255	9.15%
Ottawa West—Nepean	123,533	5.96%

pp = percentage points

Details of the Proposed Redistribution Plan 49

Laura Dudas

Deputy Mayor/Mairesse suppléante —Ottawa
 Councillor/Conseillère — Quartier Innes Ward

August 23, 2022

Dear Marie-France Lalonde,

I am writing you today to express, in the strongest terms possible, my opposition to the proposed plans to move the community of Blackburn Hamlet from the federal electoral district (riding) of Orleans to Ottawa-Vanier, as part of the upcoming redistribution.

I appreciate that there is always a fear of change, and a desire for the status quo in these matters, however I have emphasize, as the sitting Ward Councillor for the area, Ottawa’s Deputy Mayor, the past president of the Blackburn Hamlet Community Association (9 years leading up to my election as Ward Councillor), as well as a long-term resident; I have to be unambiguously clear, this change, the joining of an exclusively suburban community with the urban riding of Ottawa-Vanier is demonstrably a poor pairing.

By all measures: whether historical connections, community character and make-up, residents’ commercial activities, and even how residents define and see themselves, it is exclusively with the rest of Orleans. Blackburn Hamlet has never, and likely will never, see themselves as part of the communities in Ottawa-Vanier, even those community that make up the eastern half of the riding. In addition, I think of those homes and businesses along St. Joseph Boulevard. For example, the multi-generational, Orleans Fruit Farm, would no longer be in the riding of Orleans. This redistribution fully severs a unified community, calving off Blackburn Hamlet and the adjoining streets.

Further, even the City of Ottawa recognizes the distinctive nature of those urban neighbourhoods “within the Greenbelt” and those suburban ones outside. From zoning and planning in the Official Plan, to the approach taken in the Transportation Master Plan, Blackburn Hamlet is aligned with Orleans, completely separate and distinct from those neighbourhoods within the Greenbelt.

The independent commission charged with redistributing ridings and adjusting their boundaries is tasked with balancing ridings across the country, they can be forgiven for not being familiar with the local-level knowledge of our communities. It is in that vein that I ask you, as our Member of Parliament, to raise this concern and ensure that Blackburn Hamlet remains with the rest of Orleans. As you yourself know, the interests and needs of Blackburn Hamlet are entirely the same as those suburban communities in the rest of your riding. Yet, the needs of the Blackburn Hamlet community, are wildly different from those of the Ottawa-Vanier communities of Lowertown, the ByWard Market, or even those higher density, easterly neighbourhoods along Montreal Road.

Thank you very much for taking the time to consider this letter and concerns.

 Cc: The Hon. Mona Fortier, MP Ottawa-Vanier

Sincerely,

City Hall , Ward Office, Ottawa