By Doug Draper
More time should be given to Niagara, Ontario residents to comment on something so important as changing the electoral boundaries they vote for federal and provincial representatives in, says Welland Riding MPP Cindy Forster.
Welland, Ontario Riding MPP Cindy Forster speaks for Niagara residents’ chance to have say in electoral boundary changes.
In an open letter to Justice George Valin, chair of a federal government Electoral Boundaries Commission, dated this October 1, the NDP representative for the provincial riding of Welland urged Valin to give Niagara residents more time to comment and grant them more than one public meeting on the subject.
“Some areas in Ontario have two days of public meetings while the Regional Municipality of Niagara consisting of four different ridings and a population of 430,000 has one afternoon in Niagara Falls on October 29, 2012,” added Forster in her letter. “I would ask for serious consideration of more time on such a paramount issue to ensure people have an opportunity to make their views known on line or publicly. Please extend the deadline and more public meetings in the Niagara Region.”
In Niagara, Valin’s commission, established by the Harper government in Ottawa to realign electoral boundaries across the country, the Fort Erie area of the current riding of Niagara Falls, represented by Rob Nicholson federally and Kim Craitor provincially, would become part of a new Welland riding, represented by Malcolm Allen federally and Forster provincially. The Thorold area would be removed from the Welland riding and become part of a riding stretching all the way through West Lincoln, Lincoln and onward through Grimbsy, now represented by Dean Allison federally and Tim Hudak provincially.
News of these proposed riding changes first surfaced this past summer and Forster said few people in her riding seem to know about them because there has not been very much coverage on the matter in the news media.
“While you have little control over the media and it’s reporting of these meetings and deadlines, many people are not aware this process is underway at all,’ stated Forster in her letter to Valin. “Your website had one release on the proposed changes on August 27th and a reminder of the meetings on September 20th and that has been it.”
Niagara At Large will look forward to posting any response from Valin’s office to Forster’s request for more time and more public meetings on this issue.
In the meantime, here is the complete text of Forster’s open letter.
Mr. Justice George Valin, Chair OPEN LETTER
Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission 130 King Street West 36th Floor, Suite 3670 Toronto, ON M5X 2A2
Dear Justice Valin:
I am sending this letter on the deadline day all written submissions and requests to appear at a public hearing for Electoral Boundary changes must be completed.
As you indicate in your message on line:
“The task at hand in Ontario poses a formidable challenge, as well as an important democratic opportunity. Your commission looks forward to working with you to ensure that every possible effort is made to achieve electoral boundaries that are fair and equitable to all voters in Ontario.”
Given this is a process that happens every 10 years, after the census is conducted and the number of electoral districts and boundaries are revised to reflect population shifts and growth, why has so little time been given the voters of my riding for submissions?
Some areas in Ontario have two days of public meetings while the Regional Municipality of Niagara consisting of four different ridings and a population of 430,000 has one afternoon in Niagara Falls on October 29, 2012.
While you have little control over the media and it’s reporting of these meetings and deadlines, many people are not aware this process is underway at all.
You web site had one release on the proposed changes on August 27th and a reminder of the meetings on September 20th and that has been it.
I would ask for serious consideration of more time on such a paramount issue to ensure people have an opportunity to make their views known on line or publicly. Please extend the deadline and more public meetings in the Niagara Region.
Your time and consideration of this matter is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, Cindy Forster, MPP
(Niagara At Large invites our readers to share their views on this post. Remember that NAL only posts comments from individuals who also share their first and last name.)
Niagara At Large 
They are only wanting to change the boundry lines so Blue can have more voters than red. They have been doing it all along every time there is a change and we all sit back and say nothing.
LikeLike
The Cons are rigging the game in Toronto. Beware….
LikeLike
Something as traumatic and possibly devastating as chopping off the Town of Fort Erie from the Niagara Riding, deserves more time and thought than several hours when few people can attend, this is a divorce that’s being imposed by bureaucrats who are clueless to the cultural , historical and mutual cooperation that has existed through two centurys of social, family and artistic ties,.we have stood together as the first line of defense against the American invaders we have lived and died in our community of Niagara, our two political representatives MMP Kim Craitor and MP Rob. Nicholson have worked hard to bring badly needed funds, too enhance The Town of Fort Erie infrastructure , Garrison Road Project, the Town of Ridgeway downtown sewer and water renewal, the beautification of the main street, also the massive Frenchman’s Creek Drain Project , during the time of the worst recession, since the second world war, plus millions for Tourism and Recreation, if we are lumped in with Welland our needs will be an afterthought.we need to be left alone,as an united family, this is an “Menage a Trois” that works.
LikeLike
This proposal is more reflective of South Niagara than the current.boundaries.
LikeLike
The new NRLC has adopted a structure which includes three vice-presidents. There is a VP Niagara North, a VP Niagara South and a VP Niagara River. This was done to reflect the political and municipal communities to be found in Niagara. Electoral reconfiguration based simply on numbers that does not take these communities into account is as short sighted as locating hospitals by numbers without accounting for accessibility.
LikeLike