Big changes for northern York Region under proposed new federal riding boundaries

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 28, 2023

For many in the region, the news of redrawing federal riding boundaries means nothing.

For pockets of the community, however, it could mean new voting options in the next federal election.

In 2022, the Federal Electoral Boundary Commission for Ontario was tasked with drawing -- and in many cases redrawing -- 122 federal ridings.

The goal was to create population parity among ridings in the province using updated census numbers, with each riding representing as close as possible to the provincial electoral quota -- 116,590 residents.

Recently, the commission submitted its plan to the House of Commons for approval. New boundaries, if approved, would be in place early 2024.

For most of York Region, that means rejigging federal boundaries to ensure neighbourhoods are kept intact.

Under the new boundaries, more than 80 per cent of Ontario’s federal ridings fall within plus or minus 10 per cent of the provincial electoral quota.

All of the 11 ridings in York Region fall within the plus or minus range. The lowest population is in Markham-Thornhill with a -4.7 deviation from the provincial quota.

Meanwhile, the highest population is found on the other side of Bayview Avenue in Vaughan-Thornhill, with 7.1 per cent deviation.

Boundaries were also shifted to major roads and town lines instead of down residential streets.

Highways 9, 400, 404 and 407 neatly divide ridings.

The communities of Kleinburg and Markham Village, which were previously split between federal ridings, are reunited under King-Vaughan and Markham-Stouffville, respectively.

East Gwillimbury, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Georgina and Whitchurch-Stouffville were the most impacted by the changes, with two new ridings encompassing parts of the previous York-Simcoe riding -- New Tecumseth-Gwillimbury and York-Durham.

The new ridings do not mean more representation for York Region -- there’s the same number of ridings, just different boundaries.

The Gwillimburys -- together again -- merged with neighbouring New Tecumseth in the New Tecumseth-Gwillimbury riding.

Georgina is grouped with Brock, Uxbridge and Scugog in the new York-Durham riding, along with most of the rural areas of Whitchurch-Stouffville.

The Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island are also part of York-Durham.

For more information, visit redistribution2022.ca.