Elections Canada is proposing to re-define the riding boundaries for Simcoe North and re-name the riding. This is likely detrimental to the interests of our riding as it both reduces our support base and erase over 150 years of riding history. The proposal is outlined below along with an email where members of the public may comment.

 

Proposal: see Redistribution of Federal Electoral Districts – 2022 (redecoupage-redistribution-2022.ca)

  • Boundary: Moving all parts of Oro-Medonte currently in Simcoe North to Barrie Springwater Oro-Medonte (the area commonly known as northeast of Line 9) – for example, includes Hawkestone, Warminster and Bass Lake
  • Name change: to rename Simcoe North to Penetanguishene Couchiching

Comments: email by Sept 26

Email: ON@redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca
Ms. Paula Puddy, Commission Secretary
Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario
PO Box 37018 Southdale, London, Ontario N6E 3T3

File to participate in virtual hearing by Sept 25:  Public participation – Ontario

Considerations

  1. Boundary change
    1. Residents northeast of Line 9 (eg. Hawkestone, Warminster etc) may culturally and practically identify more with Orillia than Barrie
      1. Schools and Medical care in Orillia and local shopping incl. local farmers markets, amenities (recreation facilities & kids sporting programs)
      2. Volunteer and are involved in the Orillia community
    2. Newspaper distribution reflects that many of these communities receive and contribute to news from Orillia area
    3. Springwater’s population is projected to grow substantially in the Midhurst Secondary Plan (construction already approved for 3,850 units ~12,000 people and another 4,000 units in another 10 years)[1]
      1. Simcoe North’s pop. growth projections are much lower, which will result in Barrie Springwater Oro-Medonte quickly going above the target pop.
    4. Driving along Highway 12 (main throughfare in Simcoe North) would have someone enter and leave the riding at least twice
  2. Name change
    1. Simcoe North is one of 8 ridings originally named in the British North American Act (1867) that has not changed its name
      1. Picking one township name excludes the other 5 (Penetanguishene, Orillia, Midland, Tay, Severn, Tiny, Beausoleil, Rama)
    2. Communities, incl. indigenous communities not consulted on the name change
    3. Any name change should keep a reference Simcoe North to reduce confusion and reflect continuity with history

[1] Midhurst 20/20 Overview of the Midhurst Secondary Plan Midhurst-Plan-Overview.pdf (springwater.ca)