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Notice of Additional Public Hearing in Hamilton
Toronto, Friday, November 9, 2012 — The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has scheduled an additional public hearing in Hamilton to engage citizens in a discussion on possible changes to the boundaries of federal electoral districts in the Hamilton area.
In August, the Commission published its proposal for a new electoral map, for discussion at hearings this fall. Public feedback has led the Commission to consider significant changes to the proposed electoral districts of Waterdown—Glanbrook, Ancaster, Hamilton Centre, Hamilton Mountain and Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.
In its original proposal, the Commission proposed a new electoral district named Waterdown—Glanbrook; this was primarily rural but did contain some urban areas contiguous to the electoral districts of Hamilton Mountain and Hamilton East—Stoney Creek. The Commission also proposed an electoral district named Ancaster, which comprised the developed area of the community of Ancaster as well as portions of the electoral districts of Hamilton Centre and Hamilton Mountain. At public hearings held in Hamilton on October 25 and 26, 2012, the Commission learned that those portions of Hamilton Centre and Hamilton Mountain had no community of interest with Ancaster.
At the October public hearings, the Commission received helpful suggestions for reconfiguring the five electoral districts in the Hamilton area. As a result of those suggestions, the Commission is now proposing the following five electoral districts:
- Ancaster—Flamborough—Glanbrook. This would be a primarily rural electoral district surrounding the urban area of the City of Hamilton. It would include the rural community of Ancaster and would be situated above the Niagara Escarpment. The urban areas south of Rymal Road would be included with urban electoral districts.
- Hamilton West—Dundas. It would be comprised of the former Township of Dundas and that part of the City of Hamilton lying north of the Niagara Escarpment and west of Wentworth Street.
- Hamilton East. It would be comprised of that part of the City of Hamilton lying east of Wentworth Street, north of the Niagara Escarpment, and west of Grays Road to Highway 8 and west of Centennial Parkway South to the Niagara Escarpment.
- Hamilton Mountain West. It would be comprised of that part of the City of Hamilton lying south of the Niagara Escarpment, east of the hydroelectric transmission line, north of the hydroelectric transmission line and Twenty Road East to Miles Road and north of the hydroelectric transmission line to Upper Gage Avenue, and west of Upper Gage Avenue to the Lincoln Alexander Parkway and west of Upper Sherman Avenue to the Niagara Escarpment.
- Stoney Creek—Mountain East. It would be comprised of that part of the City of Hamilton lying east of Grays Road to Highway 8, east of the Centennial Parkway South to the Niagara Escarpment, east of Upper Sherman Avenue to the Lincoln Alexander Parkway, and east of Upper Gage Avenue to the hydroelectric transmission line, north of the hydroelectric transmission line to the east boundary of the City of Hamilton, and west of the east boundary of the City of Hamilton.
"We want to give citizens who would be affected an opportunity to express their views," said the Honourable Mr. Justice George Valin, Chair of the Commission. "The new hearing is simply a matter of due process, transparency and ensuring full public participation."
The public hearing will take place on Tuesday, November 20, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 1224 Upper James Street, in Hamilton.
Everyone is invited to attend. You can also share your views with the Commission by sending a written submission by e-mail to ontario@rfed-rcf.ca or by calling 1-855-747-7224.
To consult the original proposal or the changes being considered, visit www.federal-redistribution.ca.
Information:
Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario
130 King Street West
36th Floor, Suite 3670
P.O. Box 368
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 2A2
Tel.: 1-855-747-7224 (toll-free)
Fax: 1-855-747-7225 (toll-free)
ontario@rfed-rcf.ca
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