I provided three maps, which you have, as well as, I believe, an explanation in both official languages.
If you go to map number one, which I'm going to refer to, you can see that right now, with the existing boundaries, I have Nakusp in my riding and I have Revelstoke in my riding. That's quite significant. Then I have Creston in the bottom end.
To get from Nakusp to Creston, I have to drive directly through New Denver. I have no choice. Highway 6 goes through New Denver. I have no choice but to go through there. If I decide to turn on Highway 31A at New Denver and go over to Kaslo, I am diverted from going through Silverton. Otherwise, I have to drive down and go through either Nelson, or more likely, Castlegar. From the perspective of saving time for the member for Kootenay—Columbia, it does nothing, because we have to drive through the other riding regardless.
If you go to page 2, which is the new riding, what I'm suggesting is relatively simple. Because I retain Revelstoke but they've taken Nakusp out, and they've given me Kaslo, Nelson, and Salmo, I'm suggesting—and I believe you have it highlighted in both red and yellow—where the boundary would go. That red line is eliminating that portion of the boundary. The reason for that is that from Revelstoke I would travel south on Highway 23, go directly through Nakusp and directly through New Denver to get to Kaslo. There's no way of getting around it. There is what I'll call a forestry road that goes from Trout Lake over to Meadow Creek, which ironically is still in the area. It's interesting.
Further on, if you go to the last large map—and I've highlighted it in pink—you can see Revelstoke. That's Highway 23. You travel down to Shelter Bay. You cross on the ferry to go to Galena. Follow it down to number 5, which is Nakusp. That's the riding right now. It will be taken away. I'll just have Revelstoke. What I'm suggesting is since, as you can see from the highways, I have no choice but to drive through these two communities to get to Kaslo, they might as well come into the riding. It's for continuity of the riding, and it's just better travelling for the MP. Otherwise I believe that the MP would be wasting their time by driving through two communities which they could service instead of just driving through them.
I showed the pink line going down to Fauquier, or the Needles ferry, because it's in the riding now and there are only about 400 or 500 people. It just makes sense.
Then the pink line that goes over to Kaslo is Highway 31A. It intersects at New Denver. Then from New Denver you have to travel north to Nakusp or south down through the Slocan Valley.
That's my presentation, Mr. Chair. I accept the findings of the commission. If they're going to give Salmo, Nelson, and Kaslo to Kootenay—Columbia, then let's make it easy for me to travel around. Thank you.