Commentaire 47 – commentaires et rétroaction

Sherif Awad

Kindly find my submission attached.

Regards,

To: ON@redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca

Subject: Proposed New District of Kanata

Dear Justice Leitch,

I am writing to you today about the proposed electoral districts for Ottawa; specifically, I would like to express my support for the proposed new district of Kanata.

Kanata has seen exponential growth this past decade. Latest census data collected in 2016 shows that Kanata’s population has risen to over 117,000 residents, an increase of over 12% in just five years. No doubt, Kanata’s population will continue to expand with the advent of new residential developments and new neighbourhoods being created across our community.

Keeping the electoral quotient in mind, I feel it is necessary to centralize our riding’s boundaries around the growing suburban centre, which—in turn—requires merging the sparsely populated rural communities into neighbouring ridings. It is my understanding that the inclusion of Kanata—Carleton's rural populations into neighbouring ridings Lanark—Frontenac and Algonquin—Renfew—Pembroke brings both of these ridings closer to the electoral quotient.

I encourage the Commission to uphold its proposed boundaries for the Kanata riding, as its proposal satisfies the electoral quotient while also reuniting Kanata—Carleton rural communities with neighbouring ridings and their shared communities of interest and values.

To that end, I would like to share with the Commission some distinct communities of interest which are specific to the suburban community of Kanata and may inform their boundary selection process.

I support including the Hazeldean North area into the riding of Kanata as Stittsville and Kanata are similar in interest. Many residents who work in Kanata—Carleton reside in Stittsville, especially the Hazeldean North area. These workers include Canadian Tire Centre employees, hi-tech workers (i.e. workers in businesses along Palladium Drive), as well as many students who attend Kanata schools yet reside in Stittsville. Additionally, for the purpose of census collection, Kanata and Stittsville are considered under the umbrella of “the population centre of Kanata”, indicating that federal government entities already recognize the similarities of these two towns for the purpose of administering federal services. Therefore, Hazeldean North is a natural and positive addition to the Kanata riding, with the added benefit of bringing our riding in line with the population quotient.

The proposed Kanata riding boundary clarifies the major intersection of Hazeldean and Terry Fox, as it previously was based on an arbitrary line designed to include one small residential area (Kincardine Park). This is a positive change and improves the clarity of our riding’s boundaries in relation to the Carleton riding.

The inclusion of Bells Corners into the riding of Kanata satisfies religious interests, as the majority of Muslim Kanata residents—especially those living in the suburban Bridlewood neighbourhood—attend a mosque located in Bells Corners (Jami Omar Mosque). Thus, they would be better served with their place of worship being included in the proposed Kanata riding.

The Commission’s proposed boundaries for the riding of Kanata satisfy both the electoral quotient and the need to unite communities of interest and identity.

I earnestly implore you to move forward with the Proposed Redistribution Plan, recognizing that the proposed electoral district of Kanata acknowledges past and future growth of Kanata and would enable better representation for this distinct and growing suburb.

Sincerely,

Sherif Awad
Kanata Resident (XX XXXXXXXX XXXX.)