Chatham-Kent wants your voice to be heard in the upcoming federal riding boundary consultations.
On Monday, municipal councillors voted to hold a public forum to give Chatham-Kent residents a chance to share their thoughts about the proposed federal riding boundary changes.
Wallaceburg councillor Aaron Hall brought forward the successful motion asking municipal staff to have representation at an upcoming virtual hearing, as well as have staff prepare a page on the Let's Talk Chatham-Kent website.
Staff will submit written comments to the commission and also provide a report on the feedback to the council.
"I think it's a worthwhile process to be engaged with," said Hall. "We should be at the table for it and make sure our collective voices are heard."
The current proposal from the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission would see Chatham-Kent be split into three separate federal ridings, as the commission looks into redrawing the federal ridings map in Ontario.
Currently, Chatham-Kent is part of two federal ridings—Chatham-Kent-Leamington and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.
If the changes go ahead, Chatham-Kent-Leamington will become Chatham-Kent-Leamington-Kingsville. The boundaries of the new riding would extend to include Kingsville and Pelee Island in the south.
The northern boundary would be Kent Bridge Road, while the westerly border would move out to Essex County Road 31. Ridgetown would become part of an expanded Elgin-Middlesex-Thames riding.
West of Chatham, Dresden and Wallaceburg would join a new riding called Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong that would also encompass the City of Sarnia and Lambton County.
The southerly boundary of the new district extends just north of Stoney Point in the Municipality of Lakeshore in Essex County.
Residents in Southwestern Ontario and can join the hearing online on Tuesday, September 27, starting at 6:30 p.m.
The final public hearing will also be virtual. It starts at noon on Sunday, October 29.
More information about the proposal is available here.
- With files from Adelle Loiselle
