Comment 30 – comments and feedback

Stephanie Troyer-Boyd, Director of Corporate Services, Municipality of Lambton Shores

Dear Honourable Members of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario:

Please be advised that Lambton Shores Council passed the following resolution on September 27, 2022:

THAT Lambton Shores supports the position of MP Lianne Rood to preserve the well-established boundaries of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex riding.

The proposed creation of the riding of Elgin-Middlesex-Thames neglects the importance of keeping our communities together. The Commission's proposal divides counties and municipalities, which could cause the distribution of services and historically established travel networks to be disrupted. For example, the riding has always represented the interests of the Kettle Point indigenous community, which has expressed their desire to continue living and working alongside service providers within Lambton Shores.

Moreover, we need boundaries that preserve our unique rural heritage, and I believe the Commission has not taken a rural lens into account when developing its proposals. By mixing urban and rural areas, the residents of the rural communities will often be forgotten and treated as a second priority. We ask and encourage you to consider the proposal put forward by Member of Parliament Lianne Rood. We believe her submission to the Commission correctly outlines the importance of keeping our communities together.

We appreciate the work done by the Commission and the considerations they have made to balance population growth with community interests. However, the proposal fails to consider the collective needs of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. By changing the Commission's proposal to reflect the suggestions made by MP Lianne Rood, you will make sure all of constituents - especially our rural voices - are heard and fairly represented.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Troyer-Boyd, Dipl. M.M. Director of Corporate Services c. MP Rood, by email at lianne.rood@parl.gc.ca