Comment 7 (4 April 2022) – comments and feedback

Daniel Blaikie, MP

RE: Elmwood – Transcona Federal Electoral Boundary Review

Dear Commission Members,

I am writing in response to your request for comment regarding the boundaries of the electoral district of Elmwood – Transcona, the riding I have had the honour of representing for over six years. I appreciate the opportunity to provide input for this process.

In short, it is my belief that the current riding boundaries should remain unchanged. The electoral quota in Manitoba is 95,868 and the population of Elmwood – Transcona is only slightly above that number, according to Elections Canada 2021 census data, at a population of 101,691. In their current form, the boundaries well reflect the unique community identities of northeast Winnipeg.

Western Boundary:

Beginning with the western edge of the riding, the geographical landmark of the Red River creates a natural boundary. The community of Elmwood exists only on the east side of the river and more localized neighbourhoods such as Glenelm, Chalmers, Talbot-Grey and East Elmwood all make up the social fabric of the area.

Northern Boundary:

While the northern boundary is the most complicated boundary in the riding, it is well positioned to avoid dividing neighbourhoods that clearly ought to share representation in Parliament. The boundary begins moving east on Oakland Ave, south on Releigh St, continuing east on McLeod Ave. This division maintains the neighbourhoods of Rossmere and Valley Gardens in Elmwood – Transcona and leaves the entirety of the North Kildonan community in the riding of Kildonan-St. Paul.

That said, if the boundaries for Eldwood – Transcona absolutely must be adjusted to accommodate changes in other ridings, this section of the northern boundary would be the place to explore potential modifications. Adjustments north or south, depending on what the commission believes is necessary, would maintain Elmwood – Transcona's identity as an urban/suburban riding and allow flexibility to maintain cohesive representation for the aforementioned neighborhoods that, while distinct, share many common traits and interests in respect of infrastructure and public services.

From there, the boundary line continues moving east on Grassie Blvd, north on Lagimodiere Blvd before continuing east across Springfield Rd until it reaches Plessis Rd. This configuration serves two functions: one, it ensures the neighbourhood of Harbour View South is captures by one representative; and two, it stops the boundary at the edge of the city limits ensuring that Elmwood – Transcona is a truly urban/suburban riding.

At this point, the boundary moves south on Plessis Rd to Gunn Rd where it continues east until the perimeter. This is in spirit with Elmwood – Transcona being an urban/suburban Winnipeg riding, as the area north of Gunn Rd. falls within the municipality of Sprinfield.

Eastern Boundary:

The eastern boundary being placed at the Perimeter Highway further emphasizes that Elmwood – Transcona is an urban/suburban riding. The infrastructure serves as a clear divide between people who live within the city limits, in Transcona, and those who live outside the city limits in Springfield. Maintaining this boundary is consistent with the commission's objective of keeping neighbourhoods, suburbs and communities of interest together.

Southern Boundary:

Examining the southern boundary, it begins from where the Perimeter Highway goes west on Dugald Rd, and turns south on Murdock Rd before continuing west on St. Boniface Rd. This configuration captures South Transcona within the boundaries of Elmwood – Transcona and is in line with Springfield being represented by the rural riding of Provencher. South Transcona is a neighbourhood in Transcona, and in my experience the people strongly identify as being both Transconians and northeast-Winnipeggers.

From there, the boundary runs north on Plessis Rd to Camiel Sys St, west to de Baets St and along to Beghin Ave before cutting further north on Bournais Dr to the Canadian National Railway. This configuration distinguishes between St. Boniface Industrial Park, which is part of a Saint Boniface-Saint Vital and Mission Gardens, a suburban neighbourhood in northeast-Winnipeg and Elmwood – Transcona. The current boundary also ensures that the newer neighbourhood of Waterside Estates, instead of being lumped in with the industrial park, has representation consistent with the rest of Transcona, with which it shares schools, transportation and other services for more than it does with more distant population centres within Saint Boniface-Saint Vital.

The boundary then runs west to Lagimodiere Blvd, south to Mission St until the Canadian Pacific Railway where it follows the tracks to the Red River and northing to the starting point. This dividing line between Saint Boniface-Saint Vital and Elmwood – Transcona is a logical divide because the area is so industrial.

In conclusion, maintaining the boundaries of Elmwood – Transcona would not only follow the natural boundaries in geography and infrastructure of northeast-Winnipeg but would also keep neighbourhoods, suburbs and communities of interest together.

I look forward to engaging with the commission at the next appropriate point in the process.