In the House...

Originally published on the DaninOttawa.com site on June 23, 2011. 

My apologies for this being the first update to you this week. As many of you will know, I am back in Ottawa this week and it has been a very busy one as I have had close to 30 different meetings and events in my calendar to date.

Easily the biggest topic on the Hill this week and the one that I also spoke about in my current MP report is the back to work legislation for Canada Post. I was schedule to fly back home this evening, and though it makes for roughly a 22 hour day by the time I am back sleeping in my own bed, I was looking forward to close to a half- dozen meetings with local citizen’s back in the riding office tomorrow.  At this point I am not certain when I will return home, however I will re-schedule my local meetings and hope to hear back from everyone within the next week or so. 

Tonight it would appear at this point that the House of Commons will not adjourn as was originally planned.  We are, in many respects heading in to somewhat uncharted waters as the debate will continue on the back to work legislation for Canada Post for an unknown period of time. I look forward to this debate. One of the advantages of using technology as your Member of Parliament is that I can hear back from the citizens of Okanagan- Coquihalla on a daily basis, often many times throughout the day. I have been able to take your concerns and directly pose questions into the House with them. Some of these questions I will work on posting in a future update. Getting back to the upcoming continued debate, I have heard an overwhelming response from citizens, from seniors, from the small business community and even from Canada Post workers all speaking strongly in support of this back to work legislation being passed. Many of my colleagues have also heard similar sentiments from their constituents and one media source yesterday referenced close to 70% support for the back to work legislation being passed.

I have yet to hear from the opposition on the reasons why this legislation is being opposed when so many Canadians are asking for it; however I am looking forward to the debate and will be in the House to represent your views on this important matter.

 Respectfully,

 Dan

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• NDP prepared to stall legislation in Canada Post strike (windsorstar.com)