Good afternoon. I would like to thank the committee members for their work, which is important in the circumstances.
First of all, I would like to recall that one of the four electoral districts in eastern Quebec disappeared when the commission members' first report was tabled. However, we are very pleased to see that the riding has been restored in the second report, particularly since the district that was doomed to disappear was mine. It is all the more interesting to see that the communities' arguments have been heard.
However, there has been an exchange, a slight change between the present situation and the scenario proposed in the second report. In fact, my present electoral district, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, will lose the RCM of Haute-Gaspésie, which will be transferred to the electoral district of Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The RCM of Avignon, which is currently part of the district of Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, will be added to the present electoral district. That district will therefore consist of four RCMs, Avignon, La Mitis, Matane and Matapédia. In the second report, the commission members suggest the name Avignon-Matane. Two of the four RCMs are thus excluded from the present name, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, which is quite long.
We tried to find a name that could suit the four RCMs, Avignon, La Mitis, Matane and Matapédia. We looked for a name that would have a unifying effect and be consistent with the commission members' wish to shorten the names of electoral districts. As you know, eastern Quebec currently has three electoral districts with the longest names in Canada.
However, no suggestion was made about what might bring those four RCMs together. The reasons are quite clear, particularly the fact that they belong to two different administrative territories, Gaspésie and Bas-Saint-Laurent. That means that the names Bas-Saint-Laurent-Est and Gaspésie-Ouest were not suitable. When we visited all the RCMs, they told us that, of two evils, that is to say the desire to be recognized by their name and the absence of any uniform character that might unify the four territories, they would choose the lesser.
As you have read in the letter I sent to the clerk, Ms. Renaud, containing all the arguments, following a consultation, it was proposed that the future electoral district be named Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia. Haute-Gaspésie would therefore be dropped from the present name and replaced by that of the new RCM that would be added. This is a conclusion that we reached following consultations with all players, including the RCMs and stakeholders in the field.
Thank you.