Living in Winnipeg, people here are saying that this is a snub to the West. Again a Toronto Aristocrat could care less about the West.
This article from Cochrane Alta says it best:
http://www.cochranetimes.com/story.php?id=138427
This is a good read as well.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Ottawa/Greg_Weston/2005/01/20/904016.html