Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to follow up on the comments my neighbour in this presentation made today. That is on the changes that need to happen in the Tri-Cities.
The Tri-Cities are actually three cities and two small villages. They're wholly encapsulated in Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. We're going to make some suggestions today for that to remain, because we share an RCMP detachment, local newspapers and a chamber of commerce with the start-up Tri-Cities.
I was shocked to see the tabled boundary of Port Moody—Coquitlam. These changes are the opposite of what was proposed and have already had the effect of destabilizing my community. Since this news appeared, I have received calls from not-for-profits in the Tri-Cities and my area. They are worried they will be negatively impacted. For decades, they have had the stability of being part of Coquitlam and have a relationship with their MP. The boundary line the commission tabled splits this community in half; it removes Maillardville from Coquitlam; it affects community business areas; it separates school systems; it leaves local community centres no longer a part of Coquitlam; it separates the Legion; and the local MP's office is now outside the riding of the residents it serves.
Maillardville is the oldest area of Coquitlam. It is the heart of south Coquitlam. The recent proposal does not maintain the community of interest in this historic neighbourhood, and it does not respect the way the community uses its services.
Another major concern is that Maillardville, which is now being proposed, by the commission, to go to New Westminster—Burnaby—this is what I'm opposing today—resides upon unceded Kwikwetlem territory. When the boundary report was tabled, I heard from the chief of Kwikwetlem, who had not been consulted. The new boundaries also mean that Coquitlam I.R.1 would be federally separated from the unceded territory. There was no effort to consult with the local indigenous communities that have stewarded these lands and their watersheds for millennia.
I will mention that we've also learned a lot in the journey since the discovery of the 2,015 children. We know we are on a journey to reconciliation. I want to note that the commission has suggested there should be the naming of Maillardville in a new riding. Father Maillard was an oblate. He is the founding father of Maillardville, but to perpetuate and elevate this name in a new riding, in 2023, when he was also the principal of a residential school in northern B.C., seems unconscionable at this point in time.
Despite the federal boundary commission's stated principle to respect the integrity of different entities and communities, including first nations and municipalities, this commission's most recent report does the opposite in regard to our shared boundary.
On behalf of my community, I oppose the commission change to Port Moody—Coquitlam that removes the very important neighbourhood of Maillardville from Port Moody—Coquitlam, as it does not respect the well-established municipal and first nations boundaries or communities of interest.
Keeping Maillardville with Port Moody—Coquitlam will mean that the commission can amend the arbitrary split of another neighbourhood in Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam: Westwood. The Westwood neighbourhood has been wholly in the riding of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam for a very long time. In fact, all of Westwood can remain in this riding, as it has since 2014, with the changes Mr. Julian and I are presenting today. The integrity of Westwood can be maintained north of Guildford Way and should stay with the current riding of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, along with the villages of Anmore and Belcarra, in order to keep the quotient the commission requires.
Those are my comments, Mr. Chair.