Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Feb. 12th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

So that brown area would be in Calgary Forest Lawn under the new map, and you'd like it back in—

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

That is correct. It has been in my riding.

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

If you were seeking the nomination, you'd be in Skyview?

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Yes.

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

Okay, I just want to make sure. So you're seeking to include that.

You're suggesting what seems like a fair number of blocks, but by your estimate only a few people would be affected.

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

According to the scenarios I am given, there are five individuals but I don't think anyone lives there.

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

It's interesting. I'm not familiar with that part of Calgary.

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

It's all commercial.

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

Oh, look what you've done. You're showing off now. Elections Canada is really—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

He's pointing to the five people.

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

As I said, this area has been part of Calgary Northeast for all time, and it doesn't make any difference as far as population is concerned. This will definitely allow those business owners to be part and parcel of—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

When Mr. Obhrai is in the country, he represents the other, and you were able to find him and get an e-mail from him. That was very good.

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

I was fortunate enough to find my neighbouring MP yesterday.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Would somebody please tell Deepak I made fun of him, it just helps.

Mr. Dion.

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

I agree with the changes to these five constituencies.

[Devinder Shory, Conservative, Calgary Northeast, AB]

I definitely will find him now.

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

As you're a new MP, I understand you didn't have the opportunity to make your point to the commission. But what is your understanding of what the commission intended to do with your riding?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Honestly, I can't find a rationale. I think they put population first, and that's to be lauded and I think it is important to democracy. But I think what ended up happening is that other people made representations all around Calgary Centre and it got carved up and I got the leftovers.

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

The changes you are proposing will affect the number of constituents you have in which way? You will still be close to the quota?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Yes. I believe it's essentially a 3.8% or 4% variance, so it's over.

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

How many other ridings will be affected by your change?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Essentially, Calgary Signal Hill and Calgary Shepard.

We want to reduce the population in Calgary Centre so they are more equally represented, so some population has to be lost. Signal Hill will receive the people in the top left-hand side, as you see indicated in green, that chunk out of the top of the riding. They already include some of that in Signal Hill so they're essentially getting an additional chunk and that will bring down the riding population so it's within the variance.

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

And the other riding?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

The other riding is Calgary Shepard, which is a new riding so it doesn't have a sitting MP. As I mentioned, most of the area there involves an industrial area.

I think you can see on the green map before you that the Canadian Pacific Railway yards are on the right-hand side, so that leads into that big industrial area that's down in the southeast corner. I have no idea why they would want to put that in Calgary Centre, it seems to very much belong in Calgary Shepard.

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

Is it because the new riding would then become too big?