Evidence of meeting #58 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was commission.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
On the map that we dealt with earlier today.... I don't know if you have a copy of this in front of you.
Where we see Wetaskiwin, does this map that you have in your hand now accurately reflect the boundaries, as well as you can determine?
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Notwithstanding the fact that unfortunately it doesn't look like we'll be able to bring Rocky Mountain House into that Red Deer North riding, or the Red Deer—Lacombe riding, which I'd prefer it to be called, I think this is the best we can do, and I hope the commission will accept it. It does create a small variance in populations, but I think it's well within the mandate of the commission to accept it.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Okay.
Even though we can't really tell because there are so many riding names down here, was the coloured portion the map that the commission has proposed? Is this other one the map that you're proposing?
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Well, there's the second set that the commission has proposed, which is slightly different from the one that's in front of you now. That's right.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
I don't know what the source is of the first one, Mr. Lukiwski. I'm sorry.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Okay.
Is Edmonton—Wetaskiwin what we're talking about here, or is it just Wetaskiwin?
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
We're talking about the riding of Wetaskiwin, which ceases to exist.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Edmonton—Wetaskiwin would be a portion. It would be a completely new riding. It's a completely new concept in that part of Alberta. The area between Edmonton and Red Deer has always been a rural riding called Wetaskiwin.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Then if your riding in effect is being eliminated—
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
—what riding would you be seeking the nomination in?
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
If that is a source of conflict, then I'll withdraw it, but here's what I'm trying to get at. I'm trying to find out exactly.... What we're asking you in terms of the riding is if you're dealing with changes to several ridings in the area.
Conservative
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
—based on the demands that I've heard from my constituents.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Okay.
In the ridings you are recommending changes to, based on what you've heard from your constituents, what portion of them would be what you would consider the urban centre of Edmonton?
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Well, if you look at the riding of Wetaskiwin right now, the two largest centres are Lacombe and Wetaskiwin, plus the four bands at Hobbema, with each in the range of approximately 12,000 to 13,000 in population. What we see now in what is being proposed by the commission is a complete paradigm shift for that area of Alberta. You would have 30,000 to 40,000 people from Edmonton and another 20,000 or so from Leduc. The City of Wetaskiwin goes from being one of the larger centres in a riding to being one of the smaller centres in a riding, which I think is one of the fears the community has, and I can understand that fear.
The other is the northern half of Red Deer, which is a rapidly growing community in what I would prefer to be called Red Deer—Lacombe. Again, Lacombe, being one of the other larger communities in the constituency, goes to being partnered with the third-largest city in Alberta. These are fundamental shifts in what we're used to in central Alberta.
