Durham Riding Electoral Boundary Redistribution

Over the past weeks, I have been working hard with community members, local municipal leaders and neighboring Members of Parliament to come up with a proposal that respects the wishes of the people of Durham. My first priority has been working on a proposal that would allow Clarington to remain whole. I invite you to review the presentation I recently made to the Standing Committee on Procedure. A final determination for Ontario ridings is expected later this fall. If you have any questions or would like further information please contact my office. I always welcome feedback from constituents.

Sincerely,

Erin O’Toole, MP Durham

15. 2) The commission may depart from the application of the rule set out in paragraph (1)(a) in any case where the commission considers it necessary or desirable to depart therefrom

(a) in order to respect the community of interest or community of identity in or the historical pattern of an electoral district in the province, or

(b) in order to maintain a manageable geographic size for districts in sparsely populated, rural or northern regions of the province,

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. E-3)

Request #1: Keep Clarington Whole

Request #2: Maintain Historic Durham Riding Name

• Durham name reaches back in the area to 1792 and the County of Durham.

• Modern federal riding dates to 1904.

• Various iterations over the years: Durham East, Durham West, Durham-Northumberland and Durham

• Keep the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Campuses together with the riding of Oshawa.

• Maintain this significant community of interest.

Request #3: Keep UOIT Whole

Current Durham Riding Commission Proposal Oshawa-Durham Riding

Population: 118,500 Population: 115,395

Counter Proposal NEW Durham Riding

Population: 115,395

Commission Proposal Oshawa-Durham Riding

Population: 123,500

Commission Proposal Oshawa Boundary

Counter Proposal NEW Oshawa Boundary

Central Ontario Ridings

• Oshawa • Pop: 132,000 (+24.5%)

• Oshawa-Durham • Pop: 123,500 (+16%)

• Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock • Pop: 109,400 (+3%)

• Peterborough• Pop: 111,400 (+5%)

• Northumberland Pine Ridge• Pop: 97,700 (-8%)

May 8th, 2013

NEWS RELEASE : Ottawa –Today, Durham MP Erin O’Toole appeared before a House of Commons Committee to make his case for keeping the community of Clarington whole within the new federal riding that will be created ahead of the next general election. O’Toole appeared alongside several Ontario MPs to present a comprehensive proposal for five adjacent ridings.

Several months ago, the independent Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario released their report detailing proposed changes to the Durham riding. Under this proposal, the communities in the eastern area of Clarington (Newcastle, Orono, Newtonville) would be taken from the Durham riding and included in a new riding to the east called Northumberland Pine Ridge.

Mr. O’Toole worked closely with Clarington council and neighbouring Members of Parliament to come up with a proposal that would allow Clarington to remain whole, while not negatively impacting adjacent ridings and the communities found within each riding. The united proposal from five Members of Parliament and the detailed presentation provided to the House of Commons Committee by Mr. O’Toole led to positive feedback after the hearing. O’Toole’s proposal would see a small part of North Oshawa, including the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, taken out of the proposed Oshawa-Durham riding and included in a single Oshawa riding. This change would allow for the entire municipality of Clarington to be included in a single riding, which was the central proposal made by O’Toole at the hearing. He also recommended that the proposed riding of Oshawa-Durham be renamed Durham to respect the communities making up the riding and the history of the riding name. “Residents told me loud and clear that their main goal was keep their community together. My proposal does that. It makes a few modest changes which, if accepted, will ensure that the historic communities of Newcastle, Orono and Newtonville remain in a single riding along with the rest of Clarington,” said Mr. O’Toole.

Following its hearings on proposed Ontario riding changes, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure will deliberate and make recommendations to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission. The Commission remains independent and is not bound to accept the recommendations from the Commons committee, but will consider the recommendations as part of its final examination of the ridings. A final determination for Ontario ridings is expected later this fall.

O’Toole Makes Pitch for Clarington at House of Commons Committee

Riding Wide Survey ResultsQ #1: Where do you live in Durham Riding

Q #2: Do you agree with the Commission’s proposal?

Q #3: The proposed riding of OSHAWA-DURHAM has a population of 115,395 which is 8.64% above the provincial target of 106,213. Do you feel this is an appropriate size?

Q #4: If you live in Uxbridge are you happy with the Commission’s final proposal?

Q #5: If you live in Scugog are you happy with the Commission’s final proposal?

Q #6: If you live in Clarington are you happy with the Commission’s final proposal?

Q #7: If you live in Uxbridge, which neighbouring community do you most share a common identity with?

Q #8: If you live in Newcastle or Orono, which neighbouring community do you share a common identity with?

Q #9: The Proposed New Name of the riding is OSHAWA-DURHAM. Which of the follow names do you prefer for the riding?

Thank You

For further information please contact my Constituency Office at erin.otoole@parl.gc.ca or by phone at 905-697-1699