Redécoupage des circonscriptions fédérales de 2022

Commentaire 13 (31 mars 2022) commentaires et rétroaction

Retour aux commentaires et rétroaction du public

Les documents ci-dessous sont affichés dans la langue officielle d'origine tels qu'ils ont été reçus.

Jake Stewart, MP

Subject: Submission by Member of Parliament for Miramichi – Grand Lake

Honourable Commission Members,

My name is Jake Stewart and I am the Member of Parliament for the federal electoral district of Miramichi – Grand Lake. I write to you today as the elected Member who has the privilege and responsibility of giving voice to the concerns of the electors of Miramichi – Grand Lake, to encourage you to maintain the current geographic boundaries of this constituency.

I am a native of Blackville, New Brunswick. My wife, Shannon, and I, have four children River, Roman, Leia and Meadow Rose - who are now growing up in the same community in which I was raised. I consider myself fortunate to be able to live and work in the community that provided me with my start in life.

My commitment to family and community is what prompted me to offer my name for service on municipal council in 2008.

After some time in municipal politics, I began to feel that our community and our region required better representation in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.

I offered my name for election in the 2010 New Brunswick General Election. I was elected to the provincial house in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2020 representing the largest geographical constituency in New Brunswick: Southwest Miramichi – Bay du Vin.

I was elected to the 44th Canadian Parliament on September 20, 2021, representing a constituency which contains the entirety of my previous provincial district, as well as the City of Miramichi, the municipalities of Chipman and Minto, and some other outlying areas.

Beyond my call to public service, and my commitment to my home community, my region, my province and my country, my decision to enter federal politics was based in no small part on the fact that the current federal electoral district of Miramichi – Grand Lake accords with existing district boundaries at both the county and provincial levels.

Furthermore, in addition to this conformity with established boundaries by other levels of government, the currently constituted district acknowledges and creates solidarity and 'buy-in' from individuals and communities contained in it as it properly reflects their own understanding and sense of 'community of interest.' At present, this riding 'makes sense' to the electors in it, and I feel that is important for you, in your work on this Commission, to know this.

The culture, economy, and 'community of interest' of the Miramichi region has always been tied to the river of the same name that flows through it. The Miramichi River has a rich history and has made significant contributions to New Brunswick, to Canada, and to the entire world. Mi'Kmaq first nations have inhabited the Miramichi for thousands of years. Jacques Cartier sailed into the waters of Miramichi Bay in 1534. Miramichi timber fueled the economy of the British Empire when it was needed most. Middle Island was the entry point to Canada for thousands of individuals and families, particularly Irish, throughout the 1800's. Miramichiers are a resilient and proud people. We overcome adversity again and again as our history demonstrates. And the river is an important aspect of the culture of our strong and proud Region.

While not on the contiguous Miramichi River System, the communities of Grand Lake: Chipman, Minto and others, have long and well accepted ties to the larger Miramichi region which make them a proper fit in this district. Our children's school sports teams play in leagues with these schools, our once resource-based economies are now in shattered and we have adapted in step with them to the realities of the global economy of 2022. Marriages and family ties between those communities and others in the district, along with our shared challenges and successes, make us more than neighbours – we are the same.

I understand that beyond pure 'community of interest', our electoral district must conform to reasonable measures of comparison to other electoral districts – such as size and population. In my view, presently constituted, it balances as best as it can these factors, understanding the realities of size and population. Presently Miramichi Grand Lake is the largest federal electoral district in the province at 17,420 km sq – more than double the average size of other districts in New Brunswick of 7405 km sq. (It is actually more than 3 times larger than the entire Province of Prince Edward Island which is 5660 km sq.) Eligible electors in Miramichi – Grand Lake remains 80% of the average New Brunswick federal district of 61,245 electors. (Again, for comparison the average number of electors in Prince Edward Island districts is only 30,693.)

Should you feel that a proportional balance between geographic size and population has not been achieved, I would suggest an easy and non-controversial realignment of the westernmost boundary of the district to capture the communities of Juniper and Stanley, and other smaller rural communities nearby. The headwaters of the Miramichi form in these communities, and locally it seems odd and almost an oversight that our district, which otherwise contains the entirety of the Miramichi River system, does not encapsulate these communities.

In my final speech as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick I described the 'community of interest' of the Miramichi region, which is also properly reflected by the current federal electoral district of Miramichi – Grand Lake. In closing, and in support of my position that the district boundaries should be changed only minimally to include those communities where the headwaters of our river form, I include an excerpt from that speech which I hope helps you understand the common passion, pride and resilience of the people and communities I have the privilege to represent:

I think, Mr. Speaker, that the voters of Miramichi understood, and understand, that I was never going to be Fredericton's voice at home.

They knew that I would never accept as my role, to blindly endorse decisions of government here in the capital and then attempt to justify or explain these decisions in the communities of Miramichi.

Rather, Mr. Speaker, my constituents have understood and agreed that I was to be their voice here in Fredericton, and in this Chamber. That my job was to advocate for them in Fredericton. Not the other way around. 

This understanding is fundamental to my constituents, to me, and to understanding the Miramichi Region – if anyone is listening. 

Mr. Speaker, Southwest Miramichi – Bay du Vin begins where the headwaters of the Southwest Miramichi form, in central New Brunswick. And like these waters my constituency meanders through the communities along it.  

Beginning in McGivney, Taxis River, Parkers Ridge and Astle Settlement - it represents rugged terrain and the families who have lived on it for generations.  

It continues through Boiestown, Porter's Cove, and Doaktown – the geographic centre of our Province and the homes to the world-famous Woodsman's and Atlantic Salmon Museums.

If it is true Mr. Speaker, that the farther up the river you go, the tougher the men get – then the toughest ones live here. (There is still some debate on this point within my constituency.) 

It continues on through Blissfield and into Blackville and Renous. Howards, Pineville, Rapids, and Quarryville.

These are the communities in which I was raised. The legendary Dungarvon Whooper votes here Mr. Speaker – and I am proud to say he is identified as a supporter of mine.

Poet Michael Whelan wrote countless works about the people and places of this region such as 'The Deep and Dark Dungarvon Rolls Along" and 'The Dungarvon Whooper'.

On through Millerton, Derby, Mckinleyville, Chelmsford, Barnaby River and Napan.

Like the river, my constituency meanders through Northumberland County towards the Bay.

Circling around the City of Miramichi and taking in St. Margarets, Black River and Bay du Vin.

Ending where the river meets the Bay in Hardwicke, Baie-Sainte-Anne and Escuminac.

These are the communities of proud and courageous people like Yvon Durelle and Jackie Vautour.

Each and every family here bears the scars of the great Escuminac Fishing Disaster of 1959 when 22 boats and 35 lives were lost in the 50-foot waves and 100 mile-per-hour-winds.

A source of great personal pride, Mr. Speaker, my constituency IS the Miramichi River, and its Bay.

The Atlantic Salmon and the Striped Bass inhabit every community in my Region, Mr. Speaker.

And they are both dedicated constituents of mine, as I am of theirs.

Over the past decade, people have asked me, understanding that I represent the largest electoral district in this Province, what do people from Boiestown have in common with those from Baie-Sainte-Anne?

Let me tell you Mr. Speaker – they are all Miramichiers.

Miramichiers have hearts of gold and a work ethic like no other.

We are resilient and overcome adversity again and again as our history demonstrates.

We are firm in our convictions, and are prepared to fight over them, if necessary.  

If you find yourself in need of a real friend Mr. Speaker – someone who will be with you when the chips are down – find a Miramichier.

Mr. Speaker it has been my absolute privilege to represent these communities, and the people in them, in this House for the past decade.

Communities like these, and the people who populate them, are the backbone of our Province and our Country.

You see Mr. Speaker, Miramichi is a REAL place.  

Northumberland county exists.

The people who live there are hard-working and proud New Brunswickers who, in only one generation have lost St. Thomas University, CFB Chatham, all of our lumber and paper mills, upon which the economy of our region was based – and the pull continues.

Forest protection is on its way to Fredericton, which could in turn be the final demise of our airport.

I get that many of my colleagues don't understand why the issues I fight for, which seem trivial to them, are so important to me.

Mr. Speaker – It is because these issues are important to my region.  

Successive governments, and their policies, have left us with nothing but the small things left to fight for. Like fish barriers for instance.

Upon reflection Mr. Speaker – for the very reasons that I have remained an outsider in Fredericton – I have remained my constituents' choice to represent them here.

It is because I choose them. Always.

It is because I would never - and will never - abandon their interests for my own political opportunity.

Lastly, and in conclusion, I would like to thank each of you for fulfilling your important role as Commissioner. As we see from recent events abroad, our democracy is to be celebrated and not taken for granted. The work you perform in this regard, while not glamourous, is an important part of our Canadian identity and you are to be acknowledged for your role in preserving it.

Sincerely

Jake Stewart, M.P.
Miramichi – Grand Lake

Letter from Jake Stewart, MP, dated 23 August 2022

Haut de page