Burden of proof!

It is awkward isn't it? Those pesky ward boundaries defy logic. Rob Pasuta out in 14 represents just under 15 thousand people, some cows, a Lion Safari and a race track in some peril because of the Provincial Government. While in Ward 7 Scott Duvall represents a rapidly expanding chunk of the city stretching from the brow to the former city limits and closing on 60 thousand citizens as long time dormant chunks of land fill in with development. Seems unfair right? Obviously the numbers suggest it must be, and so some citizens think we need to change those boundaries since Council itself has determined to wait until after the elections still over two years away. With five hundred signatures on a petition the citizenry of Hamilton can get the ball rolling, the debate engaged even if that debate takes them to a higher authority in this case the Ontario Municipal Board. These engaged citizens believe that an example has already been set with the city of London and so a template exists for change.
I'm not sure change is actually necessary and the burden of proof that citizens are somehow being disenfranchised or somehow under serviced by their political representative will be a hard case to make.
Here are a couple of reasons why the boundaries are the way they are. The first is fairly obvious and it's called amalgamation. Some folks were dragged kicking and screaming to the bosom of mother Hamilton. They worried about identity, about an increase in taxes etc, you know all about that debate and some over time compromise has been found on a number of subjects including area rating that have calmed the get the hell out of Hamilton at any cost forces of de-amalgamation.
To those who still believe in representation by population as yourself how would you change the boundary of Dundas? You can extend the boundary of Stoney Creek further to the east but at the cost of ward 11. Are you thinking of adding another ward? If so then the only logical place to put the ward would be south of Stone Church running like a strip mall across the south end of the old city taking away from wards 6 7 and 8. If you do add a ward you are adding under that scenario another vote to old Hamilton creating a 9 to 7 urban vs rural/urban split, a split that I would bet wouldn't sit to well with the 7.
Ask yourself as well, is representation by population done anywhere in this country? The answer is no it can't be.
Any two riding's in Toronto have a greater population than all of Prince Edward Island with has four Federal riding's for a population of 141 thousand. That's not representation by population, that's about a constitution and the nature of the island. I give full marks to any MPP who covers hundreds of square miles by car, and float plane in Norther Ontario to service a riding like Kenora-Rainy River which does not have any relationship to lets say Hamilton Centre. Where the issues differ from rural to urban it really doesn't matter and it really can't be helped if there is no representation by pop.
Rob Pasuta brings great knowledge of rural Ontario and the issues its farmers, workers and residents face every day. That voice needs to be heard and that expertise presented even if the Councillor only has 14 thousand voices to represent. They are in some ways a unique 14 thousand within our city  that Councillor Duvall might struggle to represent, and yet he is fully capable of representing a ward where people have very like urban issues to deal with. Think of the enormity of problems that come across the desk of Councillor Brenda Johnson in ward 11. From the PFOS pollution issue, to the expansion of the airport to industrial parks to expanding rural communities like Binbrook to discussions about Marinas along the lake to the protection of fruit lands along Highway 8 this councillor needs to be nimble and frankly quite mobile to do everything she does and in my opinion does well. Heck she even has a mall and transportation node to deal with at Fifty Road.
For the citizens who are pushing this petition and the very real dream of rep by pop, you are to be commended, however if you do manage to take this to a higher authority the theory itself will not and can not trigger action in your favour. Although the Federal Government has added more riding's to growing population provinces Ontario still does not receive what it should based on that principle. Is that right? No it is not, but it is also the law and it is a precedent that has long been established.
And so now the burden of proof that I mentioned before is on the petitioners to show that this Hamilton Council or any individual on this council is not pulling their fair weight or is not servicing the needs of his or her constituents. For a further explanation of that point check out my interview with ward 8's Terry Whitehead from last Thursdays For the Record "council edition". You can find that interview at "youtube.com/c14ftr".
In my opinion it will be hard to show that council is not doing it's job. It will be even harder to prove that any single member of this council no matter the population base is not doing his or her job.
Lastly this city is growing by leaps and bounds. I've mentioned the in fill in 6 7 and 8. Take a look at the developments at highways 5 and 6 and further north. Ancaster is ever growing out it's back door and the urban boundary of Stoney Creek is now under review and folks have you driven along Rymal Rd recently? The growth there is unbelievable. All of this growth is getting national notice because Hamilton is on the move which suggests more able representation by this council than not. This growth also suggests that if you started to change boundaries now, your changes would be out of date within two years. Petitioners you will need to make a very compelling case, which we will all watch with great anticipation.