I can continue to say it until the next byelection.
I was recently elected in the byelection which took place on November 26. I really appreciate the opportunity to speak to your committee and also acknowledge the very important work that it does as part of our system of democratic governance.
I don't mean for a moment to minimize the challenge you face in trying to finalize new boundaries for electoral districts. I acknowledge the challenge of adding six new ridings to British Columbia, adapting to new demographic changes, yet respecting the historic traditions and long-standing geographic loyalties and affiliations of the areas in question.
Specifically, for my part of Vancouver Island, the Victoria area, I am very gratified that the redistribution committee listened to the concerns expressed by the vast majority of residents who appeared before it. I attended the commission's hearings—I was not yet sworn in; I was simply in the race at the time—but I heard the concerns first-hand, and the commission did too. The point is that the draft proposal for our Victoria federal riding was changed and has reverted to the boundaries that have been in place for almost 90 years, since 1924. We in Victoria like our traditions. We would like to keep things the way they are. We've been around with these boundaries since 1924. It works, and we like it that way.
There was a specific recommendation that had been rejected by the commission, which was that they remove an area of our city called Vic West, Victoria West, and put it in another riding.
The basic reason we succeeded in keeping it the way it is, is that it's inextricably linked to the rest of the city of Victoria. It shares the same working harbour, the same Gorge Waterway, etc. There's a commonality of interest, in other words, that justifies keeping Vic West in the riding. Vic West residents pay taxes to the city, rapid transit. There's a new bridge that's being replaced called the Johnson Street Bridge. Federal government investment in those projects is key to keeping taxes affordable for local residents while ensuring that our infrastructure is renewed. The issues that voters are concerned about in Vic West, such as the Johnson Street Bridge, and the mega marina, the federal harbour, are directly linked to our city. To have taken it and put it in a suburban riding in my judgment would have been a mistake, and I'm so pleased that the redistribution committee accepted that fundamental point.
Mr. Chair, my key point is that Victoria has spoken with one voice on the federal scene. Federal ministers, MLAs, mayors, councillors, have a single point of view, a single contact, with the federal issues that impact all of Victoria.
To sum up, the area is called Vic West, not Esquimalt East, and the boundaries have reflected that reality. In short, we believe this process has worked very well. It's a testament to our democracy. I'm so pleased that the residents of Victoria were successful in being heard and that Vic West remains in the constituency. We accept that no change was warranted and are pleased with the result.
Thank you.