Mike Brown scores a victory for Northern Ontario

MIKE BROWN MPP NEWS RELEASE

********************* Brown’s bill to maintain northern electoral voice becomes government legislation

The Government of Ontario today introduced legislation that would see the number of Northern ridings maintained at eleven, following up on its election commitment and a private member's bill twice introduced by Mike Brown, M.P.P. for Algoma-Manitoulin.

"The residents of Northern Ontario deserve to have a strong voice at Queen’s Park," said Brown. "I am very pleased that my initiative to maintain eleven ridings in the North has formed an integral part of the Government’s democratic renewal legislation."

On September 30, 2002 and May 5, 2003 Mike Brown introduced Private Member's bills that would have protected the number of electoral districts in Northern Ontario to ensure that the North maintains a strong voice at Queen's Park.

The government committed to maintaining the number of ridings in the North in its election platform and reaffirmed that commitment in the throne speech.

Today's introduction of the Election Statute Law Amendment Act follows through on that commitment. "I commend the Member for Algoma-Manitoulin for his leadership on this issue," said Attorney General Michael Bryant in the Legislature today.

"Eleven ridings in the north is good news for Northern Ontario and it’s good news for all of Ontario."

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