(Posted
9:30 a.m., Sept. 27)
Riding realignment could see Ottawa-Orléans expanded
to include Springridge
By
Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
Residents
in Springridge and East Village may soon get their wish
and be included in the federal and provincial riding of
Ottawa-Orleans as part of a broader expansion of ridings
in Ontario.
Because
of an increase in population the number of ridings in
Ontario will increase from 121 to 106. The impact locally
will likely mean the eastern boundary of Ottawa-Orléans
will be moved from Trim Rd. to an imaginary line running
north-south along Cardinal Creek and Frank Kenny Rd. to
Wall Rd.
That
means residents in Springridge and East Village will be
included with the rest of Orléans. That's good
news for the residents of Springridge an East Village
it's disappointing news for residents in Navan and the
rest of rural Cumberland, many of whom were hoping to
be included in Ottawa-Orléans as part of the current
realignment.
If
approved the proposed electoral boundary changes will
come into effect for the 2015 federal election and the
provincial election thereafter.
The
proposed changes were drafted by a non-partisan, provincial
commission over the past few months. Hearings are scheduled
in the coming months to give residents in the affected
communities a chance to give their input om the proposed
changes.
According
to federal legslation, the federal electoral boundaries
are reviewed after each 10 year cencus. The last time
the electoral boundaries were adjusted was in 2004.
The
provincial commission of the day had recommended that
Ottawa-Orléans be expanded to include the entire
former municipality of Cumberland in recognition of the
newly-amalgamated City of Ottawa. The plans were scrapped
following the intervention of residents living in Vars
and Sarsfield led by then Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MP
Don Boudria who lived in Sarsfield.
Ottawa-Orleans
MP Royal Galipeau and Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MP Pierre
Lemieux are both in favour of the changes currently being
proposed as is Cardinal Creek Community Association president
Sean Crossan.
The
Ontario Commission will be holding public meetings on
the changes being proposed in Eastern Ontario at the Hampton
Inn and Conference Centre on Nov. 5 and 6 starting at
10 a.m.
(This
story was made possible thanks to their generous support
of our local business
partners.)
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