Dear Editor,
When our federal electoral district was created, it was named Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon. At MP Jati Sidhu’s personal request, Private Member’s Bill C-402 would rename our electoral district “Abbotsford-Mission-Fraser Canyon”. He did this without ever consulting us or making his desire to do so known.
Why is he ashamed to say he’s the MP for Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon?
Our electoral district was created to reflect the heritage, history, and people of this riding. Mission, the population centre, is listed first. Matsqui is listed second, both out of respect for our Matsqui First Nation brothers and sisters and to reflect our long history as a community wholly separate from Abbotsford. Fraser Canyon is listed third, giving voice to everyone in the upper reaches of our riding.
The District of Matsqui was founded in 1892. The Matsqui First Nation dates back centuries longer. This is the heritage and history MP Jati Sidhu seeks to toss in the garbage bin just so he can say he’s “the MP for Abbotsford”. This is offensive.
C-402 has already passed the House of Commons and second reading in the Senate. If it passes third reading, Mr. Sidhu’s personal request will take place. Contact his office immediately and politely demand he withdraw the name change for the riding from Private Member’s Bill C-402.
Contact the Senators who represent B.C.: Bev Brusson, Larry Campbell, Mobina Jaffer, Yonah Martin, Richard Neufeld, and Yuen Pau Woo, and request they amend Bill C-402 to remove the proposed name change for Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon.
Christopher di Armani
Lytton, B.C.
CORRECTION: An article about a charity hockey tournament in Merritt in February (“Ashcroft RCMP hockey team in charity fundraiser tournament,” The Journal, March 14) stated that one of the teams taking part was from the South Okanagan RCMP. detachment.
The team was in fact made up of members of several different agencies in the South Okanagan. The Journal regrets the error.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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