If the Federal Boundaries Commission on riding redistribution passes as is, Northern Ontario will lose a seat in the House of Commons, which would directly affect the Manitoulin and Nickel Belt ridings.
The final report for the province has been tabled and nine ridings are included – down from the current ten.
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus says the commission ignored the calls of business groups, communities, and First Nations from across the north adding the commission claims Northern Ontario is overrepresented because the region isn’t growing as fast as the urban south.
When looking at Nipissing-Timiskaming, the final report does not include the Municipality of West Nipissing, as initially proposed.
The community would be a part of the newly drawn Manitoulin-Nickel Belt riding.
The north end of Nipissing-Timiskaming would be further extended north of Englehart.
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs will now review the report.
