The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is set take part in the consultation process for the proposed changes to the federal electoral district boundaries.
The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has proposed a new electoral map for consideration at public hearings this fall.
The map introduces changes, which were developed through an independent and non-partisan process, Commission officials said in a media release.
In the map shown above, Chatham-Kent overall would be split into three different ridings, with Wallaceburg, Dresden and Walpole Island included in the proposed Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong riding.
Others parts of Chatham-Kent would be included in the proposed Chatham-Kent-Leamington-Kingsville riding and other parts in the proposed Elgin-Middlesex-Thames riding.
During Monday’s September 12, 2022 virtual Chatham-Kent Council meeting, Wallaceburg Councillor Aaron Hall entered a successful motion, which ensures the Municipality takes part in the consultation process.
“I think it’s a worthwhile process to be engaged with,” Hall said during the meeting.
“We should be at the table for it and make sure our collective voices are heard.”
Council approved waiving the notice period for Hall’s motion, due to timing.
The directions to Chatham-Kent administration in the motion, includes:
– Making a representation at the September 27, 2022 virtual hearing hosted by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario.
– Preparing a page on Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent to gather feedback from the community on the recommendations.
– Preparing an information report and update to Council before the end of 2022, following the Let’s Talk engagement process.
– Send written comments to the Commission, following the Let’s Talk engagement process and subsequent update to Council.
Commission officials say the proposal reflects Ontario’s increase in population from 12,851,821 in 2011 to 14,223,942, as captured in the 2021 Census, and takes into consideration communities of interest or identity, and historic and geographic factors.
“In exercising its mandate under the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and given the allocation of one additional district to Ontario, the Commission found it necessary to propose many new electoral boundaries to correct wide variations in voter equality that have emerged across the province over the past decade due to population change,” stated the Honourable Justice Lynne C. Leitch, Chair of the three-member commission, in a media release.
Karen Bird and Peter John Loewen are the other members of the Commission who are responsible for readjusting the province’s federal electoral boundaries.
The proposal can be found at redistribution2022.ca.
Under the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, the Commission’s main aim in redrawing the boundaries is to divide the province into 122 electoral districts that are as close to the electoral quota as reasonably possible, while taking into consideration the factors listed above, Commission officials say.
The electoral quota is calculated by dividing the population of the province by the number of electoral districts it has been allocated.
In the case of Ontario, the quota for each electoral district is 116,590 (14,223,942 residents divided by 122 electoral districts).
The Ontario commission is holding in-person and virtual public hearings to gather opinions on the proposed boundaries and electoral district names, including one for Southwestern, Ontario on September 27, 2022.
If you wish to make a representation at a hearing, you must complete the Public Hearing Participation Form and submit it by September 25, 2022, Commission officials say.
You can submit written comments if you don’t want to appear at an in-person or virtual hearing.
Should you wish to only send comments and feedback to the Commission, without attending a public hearing, you can do so by mail or email, or by using the Interactive Mapping Tool.
The Commission can be contacted at the following address:
Ms. Paula Puddy
Commission Secretary
Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario
PO Box 37018 Southdale
London, ON N6E 3T3
ON@redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca
