Thank you. It's great to be back.
It's different on this side. I must say that I do miss the committee, the issues as well as the camaraderie, on both sides.
I'll try to be brief here. First of all, I agree with Mr. Allen that the New Brunswick commission did a wonderful job in both its proposals and its public hearings. What was important was that they were, I believe, quite responsive to public input, making modifications based on what they heard after consulting with New Brunswick voters. I hope that trend will be the case after they review what has been said here today.
My purpose for being here is just to say that I agree with Mr. Allen. While I'd be pleased to represent and serve all constituents who are in New Brunswick Southwest or who end up in New Brunswick Southwest, it's my belief that this proposed change should be reversed, and for a couple of reasons.
I support what local representatives are saying regarding the gravitational pull. Whether it's the economics, the communities and families, and, as even I've discovered, the roads system, the area really does have a northern pull into Woodstock and points north.
While the Trans-Canada runs east-west at the northern end of my riding or district, and at the southern end of Mr. Allen's, for me to approach that really I am using country roads. While there are roads throughout the riding, those ones really are secondary, and throughout the winter are virtually impassable.
I think you would concur with that...? Yes.
The other point I'll raise very quickly is that of course my numbers would fall from about 9.9% off the average to 11.9%. So the numbers would fall, but the deviation rises to 11.9%.
I'd like to point out that in the very southern end of my riding I have what are known as the Fundy Isles. These are four islands. One, Grand Manan, the largest in the south, is a 90-minute ferry ride to and from the mainland each way. Another, Campobello, is tucked in on the left. I think I'm probably the only member of Parliament who has to drive through a foreign country to get to part of my riding nine months of the year. I have to cross through the state of Maine. While there is ferry service three months in the summer, it's a ferry first to Deer Island and then another ferry to Campobello.
I feel that while water is not included in the overall geographic calculation, it ought to be, because that water is no different from farming land. The men and women who live in the bay area work that water. They fish that water. It's territory that I have to cross relatively frequently to do my job representing them.
As rural members of Parliament—I think many of us have the same challenges—the thing we hear out on the road is “We haven't seen you in a while”. It's not for lack of effort, and it's not for lack of putting miles on the vehicle.
I'll leave it at that, because I know you are pressed for time and you're trying to get through some business.
I'll be happy to take some questions. Thank you for having me here.