The federal riding boundary redistribution process is over, and as expected, Northern Ontario is losing the Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing riding to make way for a new Southern Ontario riding.
To Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus, “the fix was in from the get-go.” His riding picks up Chapleau and along the Hwy. 11 corridor to Hearst; and loses Englehart and the farm belt to North Bay.
“We tried to get all parties working together,” Angus laments, “but when the final report came out, we found out that the Conservatives had supported the changes which would cut the seats in Northern Ontario.”
Angus adds that it raises serious questions about Conservative leader Pierre Poilièvre’s commitment to Northern Ontario.
He reiterates that the end result is what the boundaries commission planned, even before it came north for public hearings.
“We came out across the North, very strong voices, all the economic development, all the municipalities, cultural groups, First Nations, everyone came out and said ‘this is a really bad idea’, and they went ahead and did it anyways.”
Tory leader Pierre Poilievre has “Axe the Tax” rallies planned for Timmins Tuesday night, and Kap Wednesday night.
