Addendum – Disposition of Objections Relating to Name Changes – Alberta
1. Calgary McKnight
Mr. Chahal, the Member for Calgary Skyview, objected to the new electoral district name of Calgary McKnight. He proposed instead that the name Calgary Skyview be retained, as the Calgary International Airport was placed in Calgary McKnight in the Report but not in the Proposal. He also noted that his constituency office is located in the new electoral district of Calgary McKnight, which in his view would result in unnecessary transition costs to the House of Commons and create confusion for residents in the area.
In addition to the alternative name of Calgary Skyview for the new electoral district of Calgary McKnight, Mr. Chahal suggested other potential names for the Commission to consider to reflect the diversity of the area. These were Calgary Métis (after a major local road), Calgary Mandela (after a local high school) and Calgary Stoney (after Stoney Trail, Calgary's ring road).
2. Calgary Skyview
Mr. Chahal also suggested that the revised electoral district of Calgary Skyview be named instead Calgary Country Hills (Country Hills is a major thoroughfare in central northeast Calgary) or Calgary Stoney (the Stoney Trail runs through the proposed electoral district).
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee supported Mr. Chahal's objections and recommended that the Commission consider them favourably.
Commission's Reasons
1. Calgary McKnight
Mr. Chahal proposed to rename the new Calgary McKnight electoral district as Calgary Skyview, or alternatively Calgary Métis, Calgary Mandela or Calgary Stoney. In the Commission's view, it would be a stretch to rename Calgary McKnight as Calgary Skyview because the Calgary International Airport is now located within Calgary McKnight's boundaries. In addition, we note that Calgary's Skyview Ranch community is located within the Calgary Skyview electoral district. Renaming Calgary McKnight as Calgary Skyview would likely confuse residents of that community as well as others.
Changing the name to Calgary Métis would also be problematic because Métis Trail, which runs from McKnight Blvd N.E. to 144 Ave N.E., passes through both the Calgary McKnight and Calgary Skyview electoral districts. Another of Mr. Chahal's proposals would change the name to Calgary Mandela, in honour of Nelson Mandela, leader of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and that country's first democratically elected president. However, apart from a high school named in his honour, there is no connection to the Calgary Skyview electoral district. Finally, Calgary Stoney would not be an appropriate name for this electoral district because Stoney Trail encircles Calgary and runs through numerous city electoral districts.
The Commission concludes that Calgary McKnight is appropriately named. McKnight Boulevard N.E. is a well recognized major roadway of long standing, most of which passes through this electoral district from east to west. Furthermore, McKnight Boulevard N.E. was named to honour the memory of a prominent Calgarian, William Lidstone McKnight, a hero in the Battle of Britain in the Second World War.
Accordingly, the Commission rejects Mr. Chahal's proposed name changes for the Calgary McKnight electoral district.
2. Calgary Skyview
Mr. Chahal proposed to change the name of the Calgary Skyview electoral district to Calgary Country Hills or Calgary Stoney. In the Commission's view, Calgary Country Hills would not be appropriate. Country Hills Boulevard is a major thoroughfare that crosses the entire upper half of the city from Stoney Trail in the northeast to 12 Mile Coulee Road in the northwest, passing through three electoral districts in the process. Likewise, Calgary Stoney would not be an apt name for this electoral district because Stoney Trail encircles Calgary, crossing multiple electoral districts along the way.
Accordingly, the Commission rejects Mr. Chahal's proposed alternative names for the Calgary Skyview electoral district.
Disposition
The proposed name changes for Calgary McKnight and Calgary Skyview are rejected.
3. Yellowhead
Mr. Soroka, the Member for Yellowhead, objected to renaming the current electoral district of Yellowhead with the proposed name of Jasper—Banff—Canmore. His objection was based on the following reasons:
- The electoral district name Yellowhead was first used in a federal election in 1979 and is very familiar to its constituents.
- The name Yellowhead is a reference of historical and regional significance. It refers to the nickname given to the 19th-century explorer David Thompson, who spent a period stationed in Rocky Mountain Housefootnote 1.
- The Rt. Hon. Joe Clarke was the Member of Parliament for Yellowhead when he became Prime Minister in 1979.
- The choice by the Commission of the towns that compose the proposed name of Jasper—Banff—Canmore has led some constituents to wonder why these town names were selected instead of other equally suitable communities encompassed in the proposed electoral district.
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee supported Mr. Soroka's objection and recommended that the Commission consider it favourably.
Commission's Reasons
The Commission agrees with Mr. Soroka's objection to the name for the reasons given and agrees with his proposed name change.
Disposition
This objection is allowed and the name of Jasper—Banff—Canmore is changed to Yellowhead.
Footnotes
Back to note 1 The Commission would point out that David Thompson was not Yellowhead nor Tête Jaune as stated by Mr. Soroka.