I want to thank the committee members.
The request before you concerns only a name change. I have prepared a document that has been distributed to you.
The electoral district of Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques will not change. We are obviously very satisfied with that. However, it is proposed in both the first and second reports that the name be Rimouski, which is a problem given the historical and cultural aspects of the riding. It is a very large riding including the three RCMs of Rimouski-Neigette, Témiscouata and Les Basques. However, the people of Témiscouata and the RCM of Les Basques identify more, historically and culturally, with Rivière-du-Loup, which is closer to Rimouski.
This name is a problem because, although Rimouski is the largest municipality in the riding, it is also the most remote, situated in the far eastern portion of the district. Five minutes to the east of Rimouski, you leave the riding. Following the second report by the commission members, I consulted with the three wardens of the RCMs, those of Témiscouata, Les Basques and Rimouski-Neigette, and the mayor of Rimouski to determine whether there was some way to find a compromise solution.
The commission members want the names to be geographical, but also shorter than they currently are, and the name Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques is the fourth longest in Canada by a number of letters. After the consultation, we proposed a compromise. The three wardens and the mayor of Rimouski have agreed on the name Centre-du-Bas-Saint-Laurent.
The Bas-Saint-Laurent region consists of eight RCMs, including Rimouski-Neigette, Témiscouata and Les Basques. Three other RCMs lie to the east and two more to the west. We are therefore really situated in the centre of Bas-Saint-Laurent. Consequently, the name is entirely appropriate and, I think, meets the criteria the commission members seem to be using. That is why this name is being suggested.