Thank you, Madam Chair and members of PROC, for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of the constituents of Brampton North. I'm presenting here today to speak on how the current proposal for redistribution does more harm than good to the communities of Brampton North.
An important and long-standing community within my riding is the community of Springdale. The current redistribution proposal set out by the commission divides Springdale into three separate ridings: Brampton North Caledon, Brampton—Chinguacousy and Brampton East. This is a complete deviation from the commission's first version of the map.
My request is that the Springdale community remain as intact as possible in one singular federal electoral riding. As a community of interest, it is important for the committee to understand the history behind Springdale and its evolution to the present day. In order to do so, I will quote my regional and city councillors, who wrote a very meaningful letter. It wasn't included in my package, but I will have it circulated through the clerk. It reads:
Springdale Community, situated in the North-east portion of Brampton, is truly a crown jewel in our city. Established in the late 90s and early 2000s, this vibrant community is home to a diverse population of immigrants hailing from all corners of the world. It proudly embraces its multiculturalism, evident in the numerous places of worship that bring people together for various celebrations, such as the grand Gujarati Garbas, Muslim Eid prayers, and Sikh Nagar Kirtans (parades). This community exemplifies the essence of Canadian society, a tightly woven fabric where diversity is cherished.
At the heart of Springdale lies our city's only hospital, a crucial lifeline for the residents. Additionally, the Soccer Centre, one of Brampton's largest recreation facilities, has nurtured Canadian international players who have proudly represented our country at the World Cup. The development of this community is anchored by the Springdale Library and the Komagata Maru Park. Furthermore, Springdale benefits from excellent connectivity, supported by the Transit Terminal located at the Trinity Commons Mall.
This new version would divide all of these landmarks. It continues:
The residents of Springdale are deeply interconnected and rely on the comprehensive range of services available in this area. In fact, Springdale serves as an exemplary model of community-building that should be emulated across Canada. Regrettably, the proposed riding boundaries would split our community into three separate ridings, leaving its residents unfairly underserviced. It is disheartening to imagine a large, marginalized population struggling to navigate their way through three distinct ridings and engage with their elected representatives effectively.
I have included in my package many letters of support that have been written by leaders of these community centres, places of worship and the recreation centre, not to mention that other members of Parliament have signed my proposal as well.
I want to make it clear that dividing the voice of the Springdale community means dividing the representation it deserves and its long-standing history of being intact as one community.
I would ask the members of this committee to take into consideration keeping this community of interest together. It is something that the commission has made clear is an important factor when coming to these decisions, and I'm confident that the commission, if they take a closer look, can come up with a proposal that will be within the deviation limits that would keep this community intact.
Thank you so much for hearing me out today.