2 Friday, August 26, 2022brooklintowncrier.com The Feds see us. They really really see us. Applying the deft statistical sleight of hand governments are wont to use, Brooklin will finally get the respect it deserves. Check out the story on pages 8 & 9 about how federal electoral districts out here are being redistributed. We are to be coupled with Pickering in a new electoral district named Pickering-Brooklin. Alphabetically, or even geographically with respect to proximity to Ottawa, it should be the other way around. But let's not allow common sense to play into it. The rest of Whitby will stand alone which means that current MP Ryan Turnbull will not be knocking on Brooklin doors come the next election. Lucky fellow. Less traipsing, fewer shoes to buy, less money for printouts to stuff in doors, and most importantly, less chance of being roasted in this paper since he'll have nothing to do with Brooklin. In a bizarre twist of number crunching, Whitby's four regional councillors are campaigning and working in an area and population far larger than what either the provincial or federal elected officials will face when representing Whitby. How this makes sense is vexing. One could argue therefore that, as a result, we should be paying regional councillors salaries on a par with what Lorne Coe or Turnbull earn. Regional councillor base salaries are about 84% of what the MPP receives and about 52% of the federal stipend. Then again, Brooklin will not be the only new hyphenated, hybrid, arranged-marriage district. There will also be Bowmanville-Oshawa North and Lake Simcoe-Uxbridge. This is all based of course on stats and population changes. Just one problem. Brooklin's current population, when coupled with Pickering, is listed as 122,000. As we well know, Brooklin's population is going to explode over the next few years. Is this to say that another redistribution is in the offing one or two elections from now? Canada's constitution states that federal electoral districts are to be reviewed after each 10-year census. In ten years, Brooklin will constitute nearly half of Whitby's population. However there's another bothersome aspect to the issue, one that supersedes statistics and conclusions based on formulas. Brooklin is not part of Pickering, no more so than Bowmanville is part of Oshawa. Pickering is merely the place we drive through to go west. It's even two stops away on the GO train. Ajax is prettier, has better shopping, and is literally next door. The boundaries commission that came up with this solution would have been similarly off-base had it opted for us to be linked with Bowmanville or Scugog. Brooklin, as independent as we want to be, remains part of the municipality of Whitby. Leave us alone. Public consultations, as outlined in our page 9 story, are in September. Let them know. Less than half the picture by Richard Bercuson Recognition At Last, But… Brooklin's Community Newspaper Proud to be a Brooklinite Since 2000. Published 24 times per year. Editor, Richard Bercuson 613-769-8629 editorofbtc@gmail.com Circulation 8000 Delivery via Canada Post Locally owned and operated. A publication of Appletree Graphic Design Inc. We accept advertising in good faith but do not endorse advertisers nor advertisements. All editorial submissions are subject to editing. For advertising information, contact: Email: mulcahy42@rogers.com Next Issue: Friday, September 9, 2022 Deadline: Friday, September 2, 2022 Brooklin TOWN CRIER.com RE-ELECT Elect Regional Councillor MULCAHY RhondaRhonda Regional Councillor R Rhonda@RhondaMulcahy.com 905-213-7403 @rhondamulcahy RhondaMulcahy.com