Keep Haldimand together in Haldimand-Norfolk

Call for Public Participation in Federal Electoral Boundaries Redistribution

Elections Canada has undertaken the responsibility of redrawing riding boundaries, as established in the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. E-3). The Commission responsible for redrawing the riding boundaries in Ontario has released their proposal for the province, and for our riding of Haldimand-Norfolk.

As your MP, a resident and as someone who cares deeply about our community, I’m disappointed in the proposed changes.

The Commission’s Proposal:

As proposed, the riding of Haldimand-Norfolk would become Haldimand-Norfolk – Six Nations. The commission has recommended that the communities of Mississaugas of the Credit, Six Nations, and Tillsonburg would be added to the riding and that Haldimand communities, east of Haldimand-Dunnville Townline Road be included in the district of Niagara West. The proposal intends to remove the communities of Canborough, Attercliffe Station, Lowbanks, Port Maitland, Stromness, and Dunnville from the riding of Haldimand Norfolk.

Current Boundaries

Commission’s Proposal

Concerns:

  • Rural Representation – The proposed addition of Tillsonburg, one of the most rapidly growing urban centers in the country, and the removal of large swaths of Haldimand rural communities, reduces representation for rural communities and gives greater weight to urban communities in the house of commons. The issues facing rural Canadians are often quite different than those in urban centers, and I opposed to moves that would dilute the number of rural ridings represented in the House of commons.
  • Geographical Balance – With the addition of Tillsonburg and removal of Dunnville area, the representation of Haldimand-Norfolk-Six Nations will skew heavily to the west end of the riding, leaving the municipality of Haldimand with a diminished voice in both the new riding of Haldimand-Norfolk-Six Nations and in Niagara West, where Haldimand would now represent a small segment of the population, in relation to larger centers in Norfolk, Tillsonburg and Niagara.
  • Shared Service Delivery – There are long established relationships between Haldimand and Norfolk counties, sharing services at all 3 levels of government, including social housing, public health, CFDC’s.
  • Community Relationships – Dunnville is a natural hub where most Haldimand residents who live west of the town would do their shopping, banking, attend church, social clubs, and service clubs, and use the recreational facilities. Severing the community into a new district would diminish the unified voice that these residents all currently have to highlight their community’s priorities to their federal representative.

I believe that it’s important to keep our community together, and to let the commission know that their proposal isn’t in the best interests of our residents or businesses.

You know this community well and understand that these changes are not in our best interest. Changing the commission’s proposals will require us to work together and make sure our voices are heard.  To that effect, I will be submitting a written proposal to the Ontario Commission, recommending that the entirety of Haldimand County remain together in the proposed new riding of Haldimand-Norfolk-Six Nations, and that the Town of Tillsonburg remain united within the larger Oxford district.

Add your name if you agree and I will include it in my written submission to the Ontario Commission.

Alternatively, you can download the paper petition here and return it to my office at Suite 240 – 185 Robinson Street, Simcoe ON N3Y 5L6, or leslyn.lewis@parl.gc.ca

The deadline for written proposals is October 29th, so I ask that if you intend on adding your name to this submission, that you do so by October 27th.

For those interested in directly advocating to the commission, submissions can be submitted to: ON@redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca or PO Box 37018 Southdale, London ON N6E 3T3

As the Member of Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk I take pride in representing all members of our community and know that our community is stronger together. 

Thank you,

Leslyn Lewis, Member of Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk