Mr. Speaker, there are several of these petitions. I stand to table a petition signed by residents of northern Ontario who are calling on the House of Commons to recognize the impact that reducing the number of electoral districts in the region, following the report of the federal electoral boundaries commission, will have on their electoral representation. They ask that the federal government modify the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act to ensure the number of electoral districts in northern Ontario is maintained at 10.
The petitioners also ask that the House respect the Supreme Court of Canada's 1991 Carter decision, which states, “Effective representation and good government in this country compel that factors other than voter parity, such as geography and community interests, be taken into account in setting electoral boundaries.”