Commentaire 40 – commentaires et rétroaction

J.D. Wilson

The Honourable Justice Lynne C. Leitch

Chair, Ontario Electoral Boundaries Commission

PO Box 37018 Southdale

London, Ontario, N6E 3T3

Dear Madame Justice Leitch:

Re: Proposed electoral district changes to Kitchener South-Hespeler

I am writing you today to offer my perspective on the proposed changes to boundaries of the electoral district of Kitchener South-Hespeler and to suggest that these proposed changes should not be made. The existing boundaries of Kitchener South-Hespeler describe a well defined, rational and practical application of electoral borders that mirror municipal, social and cultural affinities. In fact, I would argue that the consequences of taking a few hundred voters out of Kitchener South-Hespeler, in the interest of representative equity, would pale in comparison to the damage that would be done to the existing, appropriate representation of the current riding's voters' cultural, societal and historical interests.

While I understand the main criterion for adjusting electoral boundaries is population equality, I also understand that social, cultural, community identity, like-mindedness, common interests, and historical patterns must also be considered before an electoral boundary is changed. I am of the belief that these very human social values are far more important than any mathematical equation or template that may be applied to an existing riding.

In the proposed changes for Kitchener South-Hespeler, the village of Hespeler would be split into two separate ridings, using the Speed River as the boundary. The unique village of Hespeler is socially and culturally autonomous, with its own set of distinct challenges that have united the compelling argument to be made for consistency and historical representation that needs to be acknowledged here.

Madame Justice I respectfully ask the commission to consider my comments and leave the boundaries for Kitchener South-Hespeler as they are.

Yours sincerely,

Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory

cc. V. Bradford MP Kitchener South-Hespeler

J. Dixon, MPP Kitchener South-Hespeler