Calling all residents of Scarborough Centre!  We must act by March 13!

On February 10, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario released its final report. Some of the most devastating proposals for Scarborough in the Commission’s initial proposal were rewritten in the final report.  In the initial proposal, Scarborough’s representation, which is presently six seats, all within Scarborough’s historical boundaries, was reduced to five seats.  In the final proposal, Scarborough’s representation is increased to about 5½ seats.

However, Scarborough Centre has been profoundly changed in the Commission’s final report.  Almost half the riding is now in North York.  This is radically different from what was proposed in the initial report and has been done without public input.

Scarborough Centre residents are requesting:

1.          That the communities of interest within the riding be kept together; not just Scarborough as a whole, but also the large Muslim community centred around Midland Avenue and Lawrence Avenue.

2.          That such a substantial change to the riding’s historical boundaries – and to the proposed boundaries in the Commission’s initial report – not be made without an opportunity for public consultation.

3.          That the new riding boundaries be redrawn to give the riding a stronger Scarborough focus.

Scarborough Centre residents are proud residents of Scarborough and want to remain represented by political representatives who share that Scarborough pride.

Please sign this petition quickly!  We only have until March 6.  While no more community consultations are planned, MP Salma Zahid has one opportunity to file objections before a Parliamentary Committee.

Please write the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission at ON@redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca and copy Scarborough Centre MP Salma Zahid at Salma.Zahid@parl.gc.ca.

This is our last opportunity to influence the outcome of this important matter that Scarborough Centre will have to live with for at least the next ten years.