Procedure and House Affairs Committee on April 18th, 2023

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

If you tried to get between the two portions, you'd have to cross a ditch, cross a rail yard and cross a freeway. Your chances of living through all that are pretty slight.

The consequences ensure a less effective level of service. The current member of Parliament has their constituency office in the Maillardville area. Any MP who serves New Westminster, Burnaby and Maillardville would not have their constituency office there. We're talking about a poor level of service that the commission is proposing, and I don't think PROC should find that acceptable at all.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

Thank you. That concludes our six-minute round.

We have a bit of time left, so we're going to do a quick bonus lightning round.

I believe Ms. Romanado has a question.

I don't think we have any more questions from the Conservatives, Bloc or NDP, so we will go to Ms. Romanado for a last question.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Thank you for allowing me a quick question.

Mr. Van Popta, I won't ask you because we all kind of agree with respect to name changes. I'll ask something of the other three MPs here today.

I know when we do the objections, we usually get colleagues in our same party to fill out the names to get the 10 signatures. However, you didn't reference whether or not any MPs from other parties are supporting your position, so I want to check.

Ms. Findlay, you mentioned you were writing on behalf of the mayor, but you didn't mention whether the MP for Nanaimo—Ladysmith supports this change.

Could you let us know whether you have the support of other MPs?

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Generally, in speaking with them, they weren't against it, but they weren't adding their name. It was kind of neutral, I guess you would say. That was the reaction.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Okay.

MPs Julian and Zarrillo, do you have the support of other MPs?

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I don't think there's an objection from the MP for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam.

I think the key issue of Maillardville is really between the two of us, and we have a consensus. It doesn't make sense for Maillardville residents to be tossed into New Westminster—Burnaby when historically, and with the community of interest, they've been part of Port Moody—Coquitlam.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

I would note that Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam and Port Moody—Coquitlam share the Tri-Cities together. This historically has been the neighbouring MP's riding, and we work very closely together all the time.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Okay, thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

Thanks, committee members. That does bring this meeting to an end.

Before we all leave, this is just a reminder that we have another meeting tonight, at 6:30, I believe, in the same room. The first hour is with Michael Wernick, former clerk of the Privy Council. The second hour is with Daniel Jean, former national security and intelligence adviser to the Prime Minister. That is at 6:30 p.m. tonight, after votes.

If there's nothing further for the good of the committee, we are adjourned.