Redistribution of Federal Electoral Districts 2012

[King of Kensington]

There is a debate, yes...but it's clearly not example of a "rural Southern Ontario riding" to point to when trying to argue that Toronto is being shortchanged.

[King of Kensington]

As we have until Wednesday to write the Commission, I am sending additional remarks, in light of the debate that has occurred over the condo riding idea for Toronto and the attention it is receiving in the media.  I am emphasizing the following points:

- The population numbers are insufficient.  Nor are condos a homogeneous bloc and the various communities are more oriented north-south in terms of social activities, shopping, etc.  Condos are an increasing part of the urban fabric and it is better to have them united with established communities than contained in an isolated strip along the lakefront.  And given the insufficient numbers they would have to go further north to obtain enough territory, and exacerbate the problem of lack of community of interest into neighboring ridings.

- The north-south divide along Bloor in the currently configured TC cannot be overemphasized.  North of Bloor is made up of a majority of homeowners and incomes are far above the GTA average.  In contrast south of Bloor is mainly lower- and middle-income tenants in high rises etc. and the southeastern part of the riding that constitutes ward 28 has the highest poverty rate of all city wards.

- Given that some territory south of Bloor has to go to Mount Pleasant, put in the Bay St. Corridor down to Dundas, rather than splitting the community of Church-Wellesley.  

- The difference between the Annex and the neighborhoods to its north and south represent a gradual divide rather than a dramatic one and thus I have no objection in principle to either the CPR/Dupont boundary or Bloor.  Although it is mixed-income and has ties to U of T, housing prices (in excess of $1 million) and incomes are high, putting it more in line with the wealthy neighborhoods to the north.  Given that T-S is overpopulated, sending the Annex to St. Paul's makes sense.  

[Wilfred Day]

There is still a debate as to whether Parry Sound-Muskoka is in the North or not. One could even argue Parry Sound is and Muskoka isn't. PS isn't geographically part of the north, but it is culturally part of northern Ontario in many respects.  But when it comes to dividing up the ridings, PSM is always in the north.

The Ontario Government’s definition of Northern Ontario used by every Ministry includes Parry Sound District but not Muskoka. There used to be some differences as to whether to include Muskoka. This ended in the last 10 or more years.

Outside of the Ministries, the Near North District School Board covers Nipissing and Parry Sound, as do the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and the North East Local Health Integration Network.  Conversely, observe the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, and the North Simcoe Muskoka Community Care Access Centre.

For public school boards, Muskoka is in Trillium Lakelands District School Board along with the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County, and is in the Central East Region of OPSBA. Parry Sound is in the Northern Ontario region of OPSBA.

And for judicial districts, Parry Sound is in the North-east Region, while Muskoka is in Central East Region. Judge Valin may have been speaking of the fact that Parry Sound is without doubt part of the North.

[Hatman 🍁]

There is still a debate as to whether Parry Sound-Muskoka is in the North or not. One could even argue Parry Sound is and Muskoka isn't. PS isn't geographically part of the north, but it is culturally part of northern Ontario in many respects.  But when it comes to dividing up the ridings, PSM is always in the north.

The Ontario Government’s definition of Northern Ontario used by every Ministry includes Parry Sound District but not Muskoka. There used to be some differences as to whether to include Muskoka. This ended in the last 10 or more years.

Outside of the Ministries, the Near North District School Board covers Nipissing and Parry Sound, as do the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and the North East Local Health Integration Network.  Conversely, observe the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, and the North Simcoe Muskoka Community Care Access Centre.

For public school boards, Muskoka is in Trillium Lakelands District School Board along with the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County, and is in the Central East Region of OPSBA. Parry Sound is in the Northern Ontario region of OPSBA.

And for judicial districts, Parry Sound is in the North-east Region, while Muskoka is in Central East Region. Judge Valin may have been speaking of the fact that Parry Sound is without doubt part of the North.

Right, but the French River is still the traditional boundary of Northern Otnario, not the Severn

Of course, you are forgetting the most important boundary, the curling boundary. The Northern Ontario Curling Association boundary runs right through Parry Sound District. The Parry Sound Curling Club is in the Ontario Curling Association (south) while the Powassan Curling Club is in the NOCA.

[MaxQue]

I just noticied on the Quebec proposed map than the core of Saguenay City (Chicoutimi, La Baie) isn't associated with rural Saguenay or Jonquière, but with Charlevoix, which is ridiculous.

Okay, Charlevoix and Sagnenay were in the same seat in the 1800's, but...

[King of Kensington]

Rob Salerno describes the farce that went down very well:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://robsalerno.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/freelance-a-day-at-the-electoral-boundaries-commission/

[Philly D.]

Newfoundland report in. (I can't post links yet. Just go to the usual site.)

The main change in the orientation of the three rural ridings was well-received -- only minor changes were made. However the name 'Central' remains in 'Bay-d'Espoir--Central--Notre-Dame'.

[Hatman 🍁]

Here it is:

http://www.redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca/content.asp?section=nfld&dir=now/reports&document=p3&lang=e


I knew they would not keep the name "St. John's North". Over all, this was the best boundary commission proposal out of any province (except PEI). Funny to see the Liberals in Avalon go bizerk.

[Philly D.]

Reports coming in fast and furious. Now for Nova Scotia.

describes it best. South Shore-St.Margarets is BIG now! Central Nova is safer for Peter MacKay.

[Hatman 🍁]

Only name change would be "Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook"

[Philly D.]

Manitoba's report is now in.

Mainly name changes. One of the names now sounds like a bus circuit.

[MaxQue]

Manitoba's report is now in.

Mainly name changes. One of the names now sounds like a bus circuit.

Selkirk--Interlake--Eastman isn't even contiguous!

[Hatman 🍁]

Manitoba's report is now in.

Mainly name changes. One of the names now sounds like a bus circuit.

Selkirk--Interlake--Eastman isn't even contiguous!

Terrible name, too as it includes only a small part of "Eastman"

[Wilfred Day]

So Manitoba keeps all 14 ridings within 6% of quotient, even CHURCHILL—KEEWATINOOK ASKI.

By contrast, New Brunswick's proposal has a -28.66%, +22.57%, -16.78%, +14.27%, -12.68%, +7.60%, +5.68%, +5.62%, +4.32%, and -1.94%.  

Nova Scotia's Report is not as bad as New Brunswick's proposal; in fact I would simply say it is not bad at all, except for one thing: outside Halifax it has a –12.49%, –10.97%, –10.20%, –1.76%, –0.58%, and –0.17%, while in Halifax plus South Shore—St. Margarets it has a +10.56%, +10.46%, +8.85%, +4.16% and +2.14%. In total, that's 0.36 of a riding taken from the Halifax area, a case of systemic discrimination. It means 114 Halifax-area voters have the same weight as 100 voters outside the Halifax area. I don't mind some ridings being more than 10% over quotient, but I object to a whole region being treated so unequally.

[Hatman 🍁]

Have they done NB yet, or is that from the preliminary map?

[MaxQue]

Have they done NB yet, or is that from the preliminary map?

That's the preliminary map.

[Wilfred Day]

Three-quarters of Canadians live in communities (census metropolitan areas or census agglomerations) larger than 55,000 people. One-quarter do not.

Communities over 56,000 people invariably are the centre of their own riding, until you get up to Prince George B.C. (84,232) and Red Deer Alta. (90,564) which each centre two ridings.

But poor Courtenay B.C. (55,213) is proposed to be split between two ridings: VANCOUVER ISLAND NORTH centred on Campbell River (36,096), and NANAIMO--ALBERNI centred on Parksville (27,822) and Port Alberni (25,465).

Duncan, BC (43,252) is a winner. Until now, it has been part of Nanaimo--Cowichan. The south half of that riding, centred on Duncan, is proposed to join some Victoria suburbs in the new SOUTH COWICHAN--JUAN DE FUCA, 62% of which comes from Nanaimo--Cowichan.

Not until you get down to Midland, Ont. (35,419) do you find a community in a riding centred on a larger community (Orillia, 40,731).

Moose Jaw, Sask. (34,421) is a winner. Today it is partnered with southwest Regina, making 50% of Palliser, but it is proposed to centre MOOSE JAW--LAKE CENTRE--LANIGAN.

Alma, Que. (33,018) is a winner. Currently it is part of Jonquière--Alma, while underpopulated Roberval--Lac-Saint-Jean (78,765) is centred on Dolbeau-Mistassini (16,019). Alma is proposed to be elbowed into the new LAC-SAINT-JEAN (105,783) where it will be the largest centre. Its gain is the region's loss, as the Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean region drops from three seats to 2.7 when CHARLEVOIX--SAGUENAY takes in 32% of the present Montmorency--Charlevoix--Haute-Côte-Nord.

Baie-Comeau, Que. (28,789) and Sept-Îles, Que. (28,487) continue as partners in Manicouagan.

No joy for Leamington (28,574), proposed to remain shoved in with Chatham (44,074, the urban part of Chatham-Kent's 104,075), in CHATHAM-KENT (106,636). That's because Windsor-Essex-Chatham-Kent-Sarnia-Lambton is proposed to be under-represented.

But Miramichi, N.B. (28,115) remains the centre of the proposed MIRAMICHI (53,587), which that Commission finds more exceptional than Churchill or Timmins--James Bay.

Thetford Mines, Que. (27,968) stays the centre of the enlarged Lotbinière—Mégantic. And Rivière-du-Loup (27,734) stays the centre of its enlarged riding. And Corner Brook, N.L. (27,202) stays the centre of its riding, now LONG RANGE MOUNTAINS.

Will Centre Wellington, Ont. (26,693) (Fergus) be a winner, as the population centre of WELLINGTON--WOOLWICH? Stay tuned.

Fort St. John, B.C., (26,380) is unchanged as a junior partner with part of Prince George.

Kentville, N.S. (26,359) stays the centre of KINGS-HANTS. Cranbrook, B.C. (25,037) stays the centre of KOOTENAY--COLUMBIA. Okotoks, Alta. (24,511) stays the centre of a riding, now FOOTHILLS. Pembroke, Ont. (24,017) stays the centre of its riding.

Brooks, Alta. (23,430) is a winner, the largest centre in the new BOW RIVER, no longer shoved in with Medicine Hat.

Quesnel, BC (22,096) and Williams Lake (18,490) remain junior partners with part of Prince George in CARIBOO--PRINCE GEORGE.

Edmundston, N.B. (21,903) and Campbellton (17,842) remain partners in MADAWASKA--RESTIGOUCHE. Collingwood, Ont. (19,241) and Alliston (New Tecumseth, 30,234) stay the centres of SIMCOE-GREY.

North Battleford, Sask. (19,216) stays the centre of a riding.

Enough for now.

[MaxQue]

PEI proposes its new map.
Nothing is changed from the original proposal, which was to keep the current map.

They cancelled all the hearings, except the one in Charlottetown, where they did a presentation on the current and about the areas of Charlottetown which were growing. Nobody of the sparse audience wanted to comment.

Obviously, they didn't changed from the proposal.

[Philly D.]

Alberta's report is available. Finally something from an interesting province!

Except in the far north and south, the changes are minor. Medicine Hat extends almost to the border with BC.

[Hatman 🍁]

Not much better, if at all. Seems they've kept the terrible Edmonton Griesbach name. Looks like Edmonton-Strathcona has reverted to its current boundaries. Over all, not that much change from the preliminary map.

[Wilfred Day]

Each commission finalizes its report on the new electoral districts no later than December 21, 2012. The CEO may grant a two-month extension if requested. (section 20).

To come: Ontario, Quebec, BC, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. Any bets?

[Hatman 🍁]

Each commission finalizes its report on the new electoral districts no later than December 21, 2012. The CEO may grant a two-month extension if requested. (section 20).

To come: Ontario, Quebec, BC, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. Any bets?

The only safe bet is that I will be severely displeased with whatever happens. :/

[doktorb]

Not much better, if at all. Seems they've kept the terrible Edmonton Griesbach name. Looks like Edmonton-Strathcona has reverted to its current boundaries. Over all, not that much change from the preliminary map.

"Edmonton Griesbach" sounds like a name of an eminent professor of languages at an otherwise unknown university.

[MaxQue]

Not much better, if at all. Seems they've kept the terrible Edmonton Griesbach name. Looks like Edmonton-Strathcona has reverted to its current boundaries. Over all, not that much change from the preliminary map.

"Edmonton Griesbach" sounds like a name of an eminent professor of languages at an otherwise unknown university.

No, it's a Tory.
Mayor of Edmonton 1906-1907, MP for Edmonton West 1917-1921, Senator 1921-1945.
A former Army base in Edmonton.

[Poirot]

Each commission finalizes its report on the new electoral districts no later than December 21, 2012. The CEO may grant a two-month extension if requested. (section 20).

To come: Ontario, Quebec, BC, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. Any bets?

Well, they haven't looked to keen on extension. Maybe so close to the deadline and now the public hearings are done, they can give an extension (for example to complete the translation). If not, the next three days will be busy for reports!