Considering Chris Friel’s views on proposed changes to federal electoral districts you’d think that the County of Brant was a colony of the City of Brantford.

So, in Mr. Friel’s opinion Paris, St. George and South Dumfreis Township should never be split from the city and the rest of the county.

I say, why not?

Sure, technically the amalgamated County of Brant is a “city,” but in reality it’s a “super-township.” Why not split it for federal elections?

Mr. Friel correctly notes that we in the northern part of the County of Brant have economic ties to Brantford, but we also have ties to Waterloo Region, particularly Cambridge, but also Kitchener.

Brantford may have no relationship with Kitchener and in Mr. Friel’s words runs “east-west,” but we in Paris, St. George and South Dumfies run “north-south” predominantly.

There was once one Dumfries Township, which contained Galt, Ayr and most of Paris. Maybe it’s time to consider that again? That might make a fine basis for Paris, St. George and South Dumfries to leave this mistake of the County of Brant and join up with Waterloo Region.

I might add that Cambridge, Waterloo and Guelph are nearby cities with sufficient populations to form their own ridings. Mr. Friel’s interest in the county would wane, I presume, if Brantford also grew to the point 
of having sufficient population.

But to cling to combining all of Brantford and the County of Brant in one riding, as Mr. Friel and MP Phil McColeman seem to favour, would give us less representation in Parliament. That needs to be corrected.

Keith Middleton
Paris