Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, witnesses, for being here.
Mr. Fragiskatos, as you mentioned earlier in your remarks.... You implied that if someone resided in the city of London, they wouldn't be as well represented because you're adding part of a rural riding.
As somebody who currently represents Lambton—Kent—Middlesex and who is set to represent Middlesex—London as my new riding, I can speak to the fact, on behalf of many of my constituents residing in Middlesex County, that the rural population has a huge connection to the city of London, in this particular area. Our rural communities are an urban support network. In fact, the Middlesex County council chambers are located in downtown London.
You mentioned shared services and that these communities of interest would lose their shared services. I'd beg to say, on the flip side of this, that the county itself uses some of those same services, including health care, shopping centres, medical care, paramedics, etc.
I'm wondering whether you can comment on that. With this new change right now, why would you want to revert back to not having the urban part? Why don't you think somebody who was born in London, went to college in London and already represents all around the city of London, right up to the border of the city of London...? Why would those folks not feel they would be a part of the new riding?