EDITOR,
I sat in a late-night Immigration Committee last week, saw the Sea to Sky news coverage come in, realized I'd been misinterpreted, and am grateful for this chance to correct the record.
Yes, I'm proud to be a member of the Whistler community and to represent Whistler, and yes, I've argued consistently to keep Whistler attached, not only to Sea to Sky, but also to the North Shore. None of these things should surprise people who know how much Whistler has framed my personal life and my work as an MP.
Many Whistlerites know my family has a place there and that my family and I love Whistler and its renowned emphasis on healthy, active lifestyles. Whistlerites have seen time and again how the community and the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games have influenced initiatives I have taken as a parliamentarian, including the Parliamentary Fitness Initiative, National Health and Fitness Day, and my work on drug abuse issues.
I communicated these things in October 2012 to the key decision-maker, the Federal Electoral Boundary Commission. The letter to the commission conveys my personal relationship to Whistler but, more importantly, relates several transportation, demographic, commercial, and other reasons why Whistler should remain attached to the Sea to Sky riding and the North Shore.
As I said in my letter, and as all Whistlerites know, the GranFondo (two of three of which I've ridden) "focuses the world's attention on West Vancouver and the Sea to Sky Highway as an entity joined together by a common passageway; common majestic landscapes; and common allegiance to a healthy, outdoors lifestyle."
I am not the decision-maker on new election boundaries - the commission is. The commission is the non-partisan panel that convened public hearings around the province. It has the difficult task of accommodating six new ridings in B.C., after consulting with all stakeholders who take the initiative to make written or oral submissions.
No matter what the commission concludes, one portion or another of our riding will be removed. As readers grasp the enormity of our riding, that point becomes inevitable. With the addition of six new ridings in B.C., the commission must reduce large-size ridings like ours, with a current population of 130,000, to a number more in line with the target of 105,000. Our riding is more than 30 times the geographic size of the North Vancouver riding to the east of us.
Last winter, the commission issued a proposal that would oust the Powell River portion of our riding, which generated strong interest from Powell River and the Sunshine Coast seeking to remain united within our riding.
Other MPs proposed that Powell River remain in the riding to minimize a domino effect that would otherwise influence neighboring ridings. They made that proposal to a Parliamentary committee that met in March.
I also spoke at that committee. The transcript of my oral testimony reflects my consistent commitment to the concept that Whistler should remain in the riding. I also sent the October 2012 letter to that committee. Through their mayors, Whistler and Pemberton had expressed a strong interest in being reunited within the riding; I conveyed that preference as well.
Hopefully, Whistlerites who want to remain in our riding independently expressed that desire to the commission.
I also relayed the interest of Powell River and Sunshine Coast advocates to remain within our riding but always in the context that Whistler's preference is to remain within our riding.
As the reporters appear not to have reflected my October 2012 letter or the transcript in their analysis, I have put both on my website (www.johnweston.ca).
Last week's newspaper articles ("MPs' riding proposal 'insulting': local leaders," Chief, June 13) focused on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee, which is only a recommendation to the commission, is non-binding, and which is an interpretation of the discussions between MPs.
To summarize, in all my public and private statements on the matter, I've expressed the preference that Whistler remain in our riding, though we have to recognize the commission has a tough job in juggling many competing priorities.
John Weston, MP
West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country
