Northern Ontario's NDP MPPs are calling on the commission responsible for redrawing federal electoral boundaries to reconsider its proposal for the region's ridings.
The commission's proposed redrawing of the lines would see Northern Ontario's ridings reduced by one, and the MPPs - who include Algoma-Manitoulin's Michael Mantha - warn that would "diminish the representation of Northern Ontarians in Parliament", having "a negative impact on regional development, the provision of local services, and the right to participatory democracy for all Ontarians, including Indigenous Peoples and Franco-Ontarians".
They echo concerns raised by Northern Ontario's MPs - including Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing New Democrat Carol Hughes - as well as the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, who have all urged the commission maintain the current number of ridings in the North, even if boundaries are adjusted.