Leaders in Oxford express concerns over proposed riding changes
A small section of rural Oxford in the western part of the county could become swallowed up by a new riding that would include much of east London.
It’s part of new federal riding boundary proposals.
If it goes ahead, however, some are worried their communities’ interests could be brushed aside.
“We would have more control if we were looked after by people that are part of our community because they would have a better handle, or know what was going on here,” said Harland Betzner, a resident and voter in Thamesford, a community in Zorra Township.
Local representation could mean something very different under the proposed new boundaries. Betzner’s community would get bumped from the existing Oxford riding into the newly proposed London North-East riding. The new riding would go as far west as Adelaide Street in London, and include part of the existing London North Centre.
Resident Harland Betzner in Thamesford, Ont. on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)Zorra Township Mayor Marcus Ryan believes it’s not a good fit.
“That’s not that any one of those sets of issues is more or less important than the other,” he said. “But the realities of population distribution means that the gravel road issues for the people in the farm house are going to take a back seat to the people in their transportation and other issues that they have living on Adelaide Street in London.”
The newly proposed Oxford-Brant riding would lose Tillsonburg and gain a number of Brant communities, including Burford, and the bustling tourism community of Paris.
Oxford Warden Larry Martin said he believes the existing Oxford riding functions well as it is.
“The agriculture community complements the industrial, commercial and the commercial industrial complements the agriculture,” Martin said. “So it all works very well together, and to my way of thinking it’s going to be very confusing to a lot of people.”
Riding boundaries are reviewed every ten years. The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposals Oct. 28 in London.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.