Don’t scrap Scarborough riding, Tory urges federal commission in stern letter

Toronto Mayor John Tory has penned a letter to the commission responsible for redrawing Ontario’s federal electoral map strongly urging it to reconsider a proposal to reduce the number of ridings in the city from 25 to 24 by eliminating a Scarborough riding.

The proposed changes are part of a 10-year review of all federal electoral boundaries in Canada based on 2021 Census data.

The most controversial part of the plan would see northwestern Scarborough broken up, extending the North York ridings of Don Valley North and Don Valley East past the municipal Scarborough boundary of Victoria Park Avenue and mostly east to Warden Avenue.

The plan would see the number of Scarborough-based MPs parred down to five from six.

“I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the proposed electoral district boundary changes in the City of Toronto,” Tory’s letter to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario begins.

Mayor’s Letter to Commission Re Federal Electoral Riding Boundaries – 10.. by CityNewsToronto on Scribd

The newly re-elected mayor goes on to outline Scarborough’s storied history, while arguing that the proposed change would irreparably alter Scarborough’s identity, hurt residents, and impact businesses.

“This would be unprecedented and would seriously impact the vast history of these areas … Identifying as a resident of Scarborough means a lot more to people than you might know, sometimes even more so than identifying with the City of Toronto itself,” he wrote.

RELATED: Scarborough residents say proposed federal riding boundary changes reduces representation

“We should not be decreasing the federal political representation of the residents of the City of Toronto or Scarborough,” Tory argues. “I especially oppose taking away a representative from Scarborough.

“For years and years the residents of Scarborough have voiced that they feel unfairly treated and overlooked by governments, and this decision would just reaffirm the idea in many people’s minds. The proposed boundaries would unnecessarily break up communities.”

A map showing the proposed ridings and how the ridings are being adjusted in response to population data from the 2021 Census. FEDERAL ELECTROAL BOUNDARIES COMMISSION FOR ONTARIO

Residents fight back

The proposed changes prompted community groups like the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization to start a petition in an effort to fight back.

“Scarborough concerned residents have mobilized in a very short period of time like I have not seen before in order to push back at this,” Larry Whatmore, the group’s president, told CityNews earlier this month.

“All of a sudden that just struck a nerve in Scarborough and in our many residents and organizations that didn’t want to put up with this and we’re tired of being put down.

“We’re concerned about what signal that sends to our many diverse communities who we are trying to integrate fully into our political processes and what that message sends when their representation is being diminished.”

The plan still needs to make its way through further studies, consultations with parliamentarians and a release of the final report. The rest of the process is expected to take another year. The soonest the new maps could be in place for a general election is 2024.

The commission is accepting written submissions from residents on the proposed boundary changes.

Tory argues that the proposed change would have a negative ripple effect through the Scarborough community.

“The identities of these residents would be affected. Businesses, property values, health care networks, neighbourhood associations and more would be impacted by these new boundaries. The historic boundaries of these former separate municipalities would no longer be respected.

“I am strongly advocating that this proposal be withdrawn.”

With files from The Canadian Press