The Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes (LGTIRL) election district might be changing in a few years, and the riding’s MP wants your thoughts.
Ontario’s Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission, the group responsible for establishing the borders for electoral districts in the province, has announced a proposal for a new riding for our area, called “Gananoque-Brockville-Prescott.”
That would contain those three municipalities, as well as North Grenville, Leeds and the Thousand Islands, Athens, Augusta, Edwardsburgh-Cardinal, and Front of Yonge.
Portions of Kingston, Elizabethtown-Kitley and South Frontenac would also be included.
Meanwhile, Rideau Lakes, Merrickville-Wolford, Westport, and more of Elizabethtown-Kitley would be added to another electoral district, called “Lanark-Frontenac.”
The Commission is hosting a virtual hearing on September 26th to hear public feedback on the proposed changes. Current LGTIRL MP Michael Barrett is urging residents to attend.
“The community’s input is incredibly important to me and helps inform how I can best serve constituents and their priorities,” Barrett says. “I encourage residents to submit their feedback on the proposed federal boundary changes online, or through my constituency office.”
Since our community is joined by many ties that include history, geography, agriculture, industry, shared services, as well as local and federal partnerships,” he adds, “every feedback and submission we receive will help ensure each voice is represented in my presentation to the upcoming public hearing.”
If you want to attend the hearing, you’ll need to register in advance. You can find information for how to sign up here.