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

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

You know, I've heard no opposition to this at all. These are the historic boundaries for this riding. In fact, some of the local MLAs have suggested to me that this should be together, because there is a lot of working together in Calgary, and this seems like a very disruptive change that really just didn't have any representation when it was being made.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Again, not to be critical of the boundaries commission, perhaps because it may not have had all of the information since there was no one there to present it, but do you think the reason they came up with the proposed boundaries that you are now objecting to was just based primarily on trying to get in with that population quotient?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Yes, absolutely. They did meet the population quotient. I think that was their primary objective.

It's only when we look at the other three objectives, which are maintaining communities of interest, traffic flow patterns, and the sorts of historical ways in which that riding has operated, that we run into the problem. We worked very hard to make sure that the proposal we have come up with still meets the population objectives, so it satisfies that all around.

Also, I did knock on 16,000 doors in the election campaign and I heard concerns. They thought the process was all over and they hadn't gotten involved.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Finally, I have just a quick question. You've mentioned this before, but I just want to get confirmation of this. The changes you're proposing here will impact a few of the other ridings surrounding Calgary Centre as proposed by the boundaries commission. Do you have a sign-off from the other MPs? No one has problems with what you're suggesting?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Yes. No one is objecting to it.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Okay.

I think I'm fine, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Good work.

Mr. Cullen.

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

Thank you.

I have a couple of questions to follow up on what Tom was asking. I'm less concerned with other MPs, but in the communities, what support is there? Many of the MPs who have come forward have brought supporting documents from community groups and community associations. You talked about neighbourhood clubs that associate one to the other. Do you have anything you can provide the committee that shows support for this at the community level?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

We can certainly amass that. Just in the interests of time, there hasn't been an opportunity yet to do that.

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

I'm sorry. I didn't understand your last point: “in the interests of time”.

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

I've only been involved in this file for a short while, so I've gone on phone calls that we've had to our offices, etc., but I'm sure we can provide it if you want the information.

There are several community associations. They hold joint festivals, like Canada Day celebrations, or the Marda Loop Communities Association, so they're used to working together, and they just feel that it has been a tremendous source of strength to be able to have those groups all working together. They'll hold common meetings with their MPs. Then they feel that they can utilize their combined efforts to bring us in, so they can get three or four who will attend a joint community association meeting.

This is just severing all of those communities, right north to south.

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

What kind of outreach did Elections Canada do to notify the community that the hearings were taking place?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

No idea; you might know that more than I.

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

I assume the constituency office stayed open during the byelection period?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

You know, this is all information that isn't.... I wasn't elected, so....

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

Sorry, I don't know what you mean.

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Well, I wasn't in charge of the constituency office.

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

I know.

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

I believe they had one person there.

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

I think the Speaker is in charge of the constituency office.

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

I think it's the whip.

I'm trying to understand the north-south patterns in these two maps. As it is proposed, Elections Canada didn't propose going right up to the river, they fell just short. You're suggesting pulling that back and keeping those two northwestern communities enhanced.

What are those two parts of Calgary right now?

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Sorry, what side are you speaking about, the east or west side of the riding?

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

Northwest.

[Joan Crockatt, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

So the northwest side.

If you look at the orange line at the top, that's the Bow River that flows. That's a natural boundary.

The past riding already included one of the communities at the top, next to the river. Our proposal is that we extend the portion that will go to the Calgary Signal Hill riding, at least so it is attached to the existing piece that's already in the other riding and maintains the east-west flow of that community.

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

Do those communities go by a name?