Federal electoral ridings in Grey and Bruce could be changing in the future, and there is an upcoming opportunity for input.
The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has proposed a new electoral map which is being considered at public hearings this fall.
The boundaries are being reconsidered following 2021 census results that show population growth in some areas.
The Commission says its goal is to divide the province into 122 electoral districts that are, “As close to the electoral quota as reasonably possible,”
It says the electoral quota is calculated by dividing the population of the province by the number of electoral districts it has been allocated. In the case of Ontario, the quota for each electoral district is 116,590 (14,223,942 residents divided by 122 electoral districts).
Locally, proposed redistribution changes would see Grey Highlands which is currently in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound become part of what is now Simcoe-Grey, which could possibly be renamed Collingwood-Blue Mountains. Simcoe-Grey would lose Alliston but gain Grey Highlands.
Brockton and South Bruce would become become part of Bruce-Grey-Owen-Sound instead of Huron-Bruce.
Huron-Bruce would be renamed South Huron Shores and would extend further south to Forest and roughly County Road 12.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff says he’ll be reaching out to impacted local levels of government to help ensure they are aware of the proposed changes and their upcoming opportunity to submit comments.
“There are ways to do it right online. You can sign up with the interactive tool, you can make your proposals,” says Ruff
The deadline to submit a Public Hearing Participation Form is September 25th. Public hearings are scheduled to be held from September 26th to October 29th. There is the option of providing a written submission. Written submissions will be made public by the commission.
Ruff says a virtual hearing will be held September 27th at 6:30 p.m. which will encompass a very large geographical area including Hamilton and Niagara; South Central Ontario; Southwestern Ontario; and Southernmost Ontario. That meeting includes Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and other local ridings.
The commission says a report will follow sometime between October and December. Between November 2022 and May 2023, Members of Parliament will have an opportunity to object to the proposed changes. The Commission says changes to the electoral boundaries will not come into effect until April 1, 2024, at the earliest.
Each province in Canada has an electoral boundaries commission. Each commission is made up of three members, one of whom is a judge appointed by the chief justice of the province. The two other members are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons.
