The north wants in: Why new ridings in Ontario’s most remote region won’t curb northern alienation – TVO.org
Aug 23, 2017
OPINION: Even with two new provincial seats, northern Ontario’s political influence will continue to wane, writes David Tabachnick
Reflecting the same sentiment as the old Reform Party slogan — “The West Wants In” — there is broad agreement among northern Ontario residents aren’t getting their economic fair share and aren’t well represented. Despite recent initiatives at the provincial level to address these concerns, this grievance is unlikely to go away.
Northern Ontario makes up about 87 per cent of the province’s landmass yet is home to about 5 per cent of its population. It’s represented by 10 federal and 11 provincial ridings. It may seem, therefore, as if the region has more than its fair share of political clout, having already one extra provincial representative relative to its population. But most northerners feel that neither Parliament Hill nor Queen’s Park hear their concerns or have a clue about their culture. To them, it seems like most politicians think Ontario stops somewhere around Barrie or, for the well-heeled, in Muskoka.
