Wellington County won’t be part of new electoral ridings being established by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario. The commission has proposed the establishment of 15 new ridings on a new federal electoral map for consideration at public hearings this fall.
Canada’s electoral districts are reviewed every 10 years by independent commissions in each province to account for shifts and growth in the population. These reviews consider population numbers—as captured in the federal census—as well as other important factors such as communities of interest or identity, and historical and geographic factors.
The commission makes final decisions about where the electoral boundaries will be located after consultation, giving the public and Members of Parliament an opportunity to express their views and participate in the process.
The proposed new electoral districts are located in the following areas: Brampton (2), Cambridge, Durham (2), Hamilton, Markham (2), Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Simcoe, Toronto (2) and York. As well, despite a slight population decline, the commission has maintained 10 electoral districts in Northern Ontario. The commission is hosting public meetings at city hall in Cambridge on Oct. 24 at 11am, the Crowne Plaza Hamilton Hotel and Conference Centre on Oct. 25 at 11am, and at the Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton Hotel on Oct. 26 at 10am.
