Comment 16 – comments and feedback

Larry Brock, MP for Brantford-Brant

This past Monday I held a town hall meeting with the residents of Brantford-Brant to discuss the proposed redistributed boundaries for the riding. Residents raised a number of questions and concerns at that meeting and expressed views both for and against the boundary changes.

During that meeting, and in the lead up to it, a number of residents expressed to me that they wish to have more time to consider the impact this change will have. Residents, including public officials, are of the opinion that they have been given insufficient notice to educate themselves on the proposed changes, consider alternatives and to provide their responses either for or against these proposed changes.

Like other parts of Ontario, The City of Brantford and the County of Brant are in the middle of a municipal election. Given the impact this change will have on how future Mayors and Councils communicate their concerns up through to the federal government, it would be appropriate to wait until those future Mayors and Councils are set and have had an opportunity to express their views on the matter.

Many residents have asked me for information on how they can participate in the public hearings. These include residents from Six Nations and leaders of local public service groups and business associations.

Other concerns raised by constituents included their displeasure with a virtual hearing and that the hearing was not exclusively for the residents of Brantford-Brant. We are among possibly eight to 10 other ridings in southwestern Ontario who are all grouped together on one night. I'm sure you can imagine the logistical nightmare that organizers like yourself will be faced with to give each constituent that wants to, an appropriate amount of time to express their opinions verbally.

It is my understanding that the public hearings that were scheduled for London, Calgary and Vancouver have all been postponed to a later date then originally scheduled. It is also my understanding that in accordance with the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act that the Commission has until December to submit its final report to the Speaker of the House of Commons through the Chief Electoral Officer, unless of course the CEO grants an additional two months extension.

I urge the Commission to postpone the hearing set for Brantford – Brant by two months and reschedule it to be in person in the riding. In addition to this I would request that the deadline for written submissions be extended by two months as well. It is my belief that this will provide the residents of Brantford-Brant with ample time to educate themselves on the proposed changes, consider alternatives and to provide their responses either for or against these proposed changes.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to the reply.

Sincerely,

Larry Brock
Member of Parliament
Brantford-Brant