Some changes could be on the way for federal and provincial ridings in Midwestern Ontario.
An interactive map released by the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has proposed several changes for its 2022 redistribution, including new names for the ridings of Huron-Bruce and Simcoe-Grey, as well as some boundary redistribution near the towns of Walkerton, Markdale and Grand Bend.
Should the proposal survive consultations (which includes 17 public hearings between September 26th and October 29th), the riding currently known as Huron-Bruce would be renamed as "South Huron Shores". This new riding would lose a large portion of its current northeast corner to Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, including the communities of Walkerton, Teeswater, Formosa, Mildmay, Chepstow and Cargill. This new riding would also gain a portion to the south of the current Huron-Bruce that includes the communities of Grand Bend, Parkhill, Ailsa Craig, Clandeboye, Lucan and Forest, all of which are currently part of the riding of Lambton-Middlesex.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound would also see redistribution. In addition to adding a portion of Huron-Bruce, the neighbouring riding of Simcoe-Grey would be renamed "Collingwood-Blue Mountains", and would gain the eastern portion of B.G.O.S., including the communities of Markdale, Priceville, Flesherton, Eugenia, Kimberley, Feversham and Badjeros.
The riding of Perth-Wellington wouldn't lose any of its current territory, but it would gain a small portion of what is now in Huron-Bruce, including the communities of Wroxeter, Gorrie and Fordwich.
This riding redistribution process is mandated under the Constitution of Canada, and is required every ten years to "reflect the changes and movements in Canada's population."
Next steps include public hearings, where Members of Parliament can file objections, before a report is completed by the end of this year.
The virtual hearing scheduled for Tuesday, September 27th at 6:30 p.m. is expected to cover the proposed redistribution lines in Southwestern Ontario.