Ontario redistribution - my 170 seat proposal

[toaster]

I hate to bring up an old thread, and perhaps there is another place for this, but Ontario is considering breaking up both Kenora - Rainy River and Timmins - James Bay, and creating 1, and possibly 2 extra ridings.

http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/proposal-for-new-ridings-in-ontarios-north-falls-short

[toaster]

I read my comment from a year ago, and I take it back. I'd be all for increasing the number of seats in the Ontario leg, especially if it's tied to electoral reform, ie. adding top-up seats without taking away geographical representation.

Yeah.  The notion though, that the Liberal party has nothing to gain is false.  When you take away the far North from Timmins - James Bay, Timmins proper becomes much more competitive for the Liberal Party, although I'm not sure that it would remain alone.

[toaster]

This is ridiculous. Northern Ontario is already over represented, it even still has one more seat than in federal elections.

Maybe it's time for devolution!

Far Northern Ontario is the Nunavut of Ontario.  The massive geographic landmass is very difficult to cover and serve, not to mention that, it is always the "White guy from Timmins" (in the case of T-JB) who represents them (although, I personally believe the current member does a good job for the region).  As someone who used to live in Timmins, I think the sentiment in that city was that they felt they got less because they happened to be in such a huge riding.  The comparison was always "Look at what Sudbury got... We have to share what our riding "gets" (financially) with an area that is larger than most countries (ie. we get much less).