Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Feb. 7th, 2013

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Cullen, I'm a realist. Given the fact that the commission has heard from 19 different parties or interest groups in the hearings process and made very minor modifications at this point in time, I think it would be foolhardy for me to come here and think that they're going to look at a complete redraw because I asked them to.

Therefore, I'm doing the best I can to keep the rural component of the Edmonton—Wetaskiwin and the hopefully Red Deer—Lacombe ridings as balanced as possible and as inclusive as possible to those communities in central Alberta that want to be in a central Alberta riding.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

You've made a good case. Thank you, Blaine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you, Mr. Cullen.

Mr. Dion is next.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Chair, Mr. Reid wanted to interject if he's not taking my time.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

No, I didn't want to interject. I wanted to ask a question, but I can wait until you're done.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

The first thing, Mr. Calkins, is that I love the wording of “Red Deer—Lacombe”. I'm with you.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Of course.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

It shows the French history of Alberta. That's good.

Second, how many ridings exactly will be affected by what you're proposing?

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

The ridings I'm talking about would simply involve the proposed Edmonton—Wetaskiwin riding, the proposed Red Deer—Wolf Creek riding, and to a certain degree the Yellowhead riding.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Do you mean none have an MP now?

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Two of these ridings don't exist currently, Mr. Dion, because the Edmonton—Wetaskiwin and Red Deer—Wolf Creek ridings and a portion of what is going to be the proposed Yellowhead riding are now in the Wetaskiwin riding, and they have an excellent MP.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

So you don't need to speak to a colleague to be sure that the colleague is...?

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

We've had a discussion as colleagues, and again, this goes back to the realistic approach of what we can do. I've spoken with those colleagues in that particular area, and everyone is fine with the tolerances and variances and the community inclusiveness.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Am I right to understand that the number of inhabitants you would have in your riding would be 111,602? That's the figure I have here.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

For which proposed riding is that, Mr. Dion? Is that Red Deer—Wolf Creek?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Yes, but is it after the proposed change or before?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I would assume it has to be after, because it doesn't exist in the current standard.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

That's right.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

That's true, and it's only 4% above.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

It's only 4% of the variance. That is an area that will grow.

I don't want to use up your time, Mr. Dion, because I know how valuable it is, but that would be a similar variance with Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, which I think is 1% more. Both of those ridings would grow at a population rate approximately the same. As Red Deer grows, it grows in its perimeters, and it would be growing northwards.

Blackfalds, when I was in high school and living in Lacombe, had less than 1,000 people. It's now over 7,000 in that short time; I'm still pretty young.

If we put two bands, Ermineskin and Louis Bull, in the Edmonton—Wetaskiwin riding, and put Samson and Montana.... Those are also two communities that are growing very rapidly. To make that split along there keeps their ties to their respective communities in each riding, but also evens out those high-growth-rate areas between those two ridings. At the end of 10 years, they'd probably have similar populations.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

What, among everything you are saying to us today, would be new for the commission? Do you have additional arguments to make? I'm asking because I understand the commission considered your proposal and rejected it.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

I did not make a proposal to the commission, Mr. Dion.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

I read in French—I have that in French—that the commission discussed different options for your riding in its report.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

It might have. I know that a number of organizations made representations to the commission.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

It would be good for you to read the commission report.