2003-04-04

Your editorial on Wednesday, April 2 raised some excellent points. There is one issue that I think could have been highlighted however.

The major problems with the proposed boundary change are caused by the former premier Mike Harris government's decision to use the Federal ridings provincially.

The differences between Scarborough and Pickering are not always significant at the Federal level. Transfer payments to the provinces, Income taxes, the GST, EI benefits, CPP, foreign policy, etc. are of concern to all Canadians but there are not usually conflicts between ridings in the same province over them.

When you get down to the provincial level however, the difference between 416 and 905 is dramatic. Education, health care, transit, environmental protection, and a host of other issues all have their local components.

And provincial funding differs depending on which side of the Rouge you are on.

We used to have separate Federal and Provincial ridings to accommodate the need for greater local representation and sensitivity to municipal boundaries.

The Tory's 1996 "Fewer Politicians Act" changed all that. Like most of the legislation passed over the last eight years, it was rammed through without adequate consultation or debate, and without proper consideration of the consequences.

Act in haste...repent at leisure.

Gary Dale, Provincial NDP Candidate
Scarborough East