Comment 6 – comments and feedback

Connie Cody

Please accept the attached as my written submission to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario, in regards to the proposed boundary changes impacting the Cambridge and surrounding ridings.

Regards,

Connie Cody

Submission to The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario, on the Review of the Federal Electoral Districts Redistribution 2022

Introduction

This letter is the submission of Connie Cody, Candidate of Record - Cambridge Riding, Conservative Party of Canada to the Federal Boundaries Commission for Ontario on the proposed boundaries and electoral district names. (See details at: https://redecoupage-redistribution-2022.ca/index_e.aspx)

Background

It is with an understanding that the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario should continue its effort to improve boundaries and electoral district names, recognizing that reform is sometimes a necessity and inevitable. Keeping the status quo would be an acceptable conclusion, but with future plans of growth, it may no longer work best.

In 1973, our community went through an amalgamation, joining Galt, Preston, Hespeler and Blair. Each of these communities possess a strong and unique history, and where much resistance was expressed. Even today, nearly 50 years later, we are still experiencing disconnect as a whole, and where further separation and fragmentation of our community will only compound, and lower participation in municipal engagement.

The current boundaries have our city divided into two ridings known as the Kitchener-South Hespeler and Cambridge ridings. The proposal that is being presented will now divide the City of Cambridge into three different ridings, increasing the government representation to three persons, of both the federal and provincial government. The end result leads to a more encumbered process, being less efficient and effective for the community.

Recommendation:

Status quo is no longer a workable solution, and with support, it is my recommendation to The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario, to adopt the following as the newly proposed redistribution of boundaries for the City of Cambridge and surrounding ridings. Here is an alternative to keep unity in our city.

1. Proposal of 2 ridings, Cambridge - North; and Cambridge South - North Dumfries; consisting of:
   • (a) that part of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo comprised of:
   • (i) that part of the City of Cambridge consisting of municipal boundaries; and
   • (ii) the Township of North Dumfries
2. Proposal to revise Kitchener - Conestoga, consisting of:(a) that part of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo comprised of:
   • (i) that part of the City of Kitchener described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the westerly limit of said city and Bleams Road; thence easterly along said road to Fisher-Hallman Road; thence northerly and generally northwesterly along said road to the northerly limit of the said city; thence generally westerly along said limit to the westerly limit of said city; thence southeasterly along said limit to the point of commencement; and
   • (ii) the townships of Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich; and
   • (iii) that part of the City of Kitchener described as follows: commencing at the intersection of the westerly limit of said city and Bleams Road; thence easterly along said road to Fischer-Hallman Road; thence northerly and northwesterly along said road to Highway 7/8 (Conestoga Parkway); thence generally northeasterly along said highway to Highway 8; thence southeasterly along said highway to the intersection of said road and the southerly production of Fergus Avenue; thence northerly along said production and along said avenue to Weber Street East; thence easterly and southeasterly along said street to Kinzie Avenue; thence northeasterly along said avenue to River Road East; thence northwesterly along said road to Old Chicopee Drive; thence northeasterly and northerly along said drive to Daimler Drive; thence generally northeasterly along said drive to Lackner Boulevard; thence easterly and southeasterly along said boulevard to Fairway Road North; thence northeasterly and easterly along said road to Woolner Trail; thence southeasterly along said trail and its production to the Grand River and the easterly limit of said city; thence generally southerly, southwesterly, westerly and northerly along the easterly, southerly and westerly limits of said city to the point of commencement.