Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I was told when I first became MP that I should never use the name of my riding, because I would eat up half of my speaking time. Thank you.
I think this is perhaps the most difficult presentation I've made as a member of Parliament, and maybe you will all identify with this when I say that this really cuts to the core of our role as representatives of our communities and the individuals there. So it's no coincidence that I'm wearing several pins today in representing the various communities and communities of interest in the vast sprawling West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky riding.
My colleague has just said there's no perfect answer, and I would echo those words. I commonly call the area I represent the most beautiful place on earth not just because of the mountains and the waters and the islands but also because of the very innovative, entrepreneurial people who have increasingly identified themselves together. We've come together with annual best practice meetings. Much of what has happened in the riding has spurred my national health and fitness initiative, which is gaining steam. It is an amazing honour to represent this place.
In terms of common identities, I would say that the commission did a very good job in its report in identifying the different communities of interest throughout British Columbia, but also in the riding that I represent. One thing that it did—and I would bolster its conclusion—is to keep the city of West Vancouver whole. It might have been tempting, given the populations, to try to divide that, but it avoided making that mistake. Dividing West Vancouver would have drawn a line between people who share schools and community centres and other things. Keeping West Vancouver whole is something that I would recommend to this committee.
Secondly, we've heard a lot about Powell River and the Sunshine Coast. Powell River and Sunshine Coast have expressed a strong interest to stay together as a community of interest. John Duncan made a very articulate presentation in repeating the words of local leaders who identify as a community of interest. Although it's challenging to represent Powell River—we have four offices, one in Ottawa and three in the riding, and I believe in the 40th session of Parliament there were only three other MPs who had to operate that many offices—I would say that there's a strong community of interest between Powell River and the Sunshine Coast. I agree that there would be a strong preference to bring it back into the riding that I currently represent.
That creates a population issue. My colleague has spoken about Whistler and Sea to Sky. There's also a community of interest there, and my family is perhaps representative, having houses in both places, West Vancouver and Whistler, which is common for people who live in and identify with both places. I would say it would be my preference that Whistler remain, but I can see that we have to make some difficult decisions.
Given the very strong statements that have come from Powell River and that part of the Sunshine Coast, this committee has a difficult decision to make. I can only say that I'm also reluctant to have any part of the community that I presently represent leave, because it is an amazing honour to represent all of them.