Reflecting on the Great Filibuster of 2011

Originally published on the DaninOttawa.com site on June 27, 2011.

It’s nice to be back in the beautiful riding of Okanagan-Coquihalla and I can say with all sincerity that Canada Day will have new meaning for me this year. We all share a love for this country, but over the past 72 hours of which 58 hours was spent nonstop debating. I also began to realize that what really sets us apart as a Country is our people. Over the past few months since becoming elected as your Member of Parliament I been fortunate to meet citizens from every region all across Canada.

This most recent debate had at one time or another almost every member of the house share concerns from their constituents. There was a wide range of issues to ponder. Often when we think of politicians we wonder if they will be there for us in our times of need. From my own perspective I discovered that my constituents were there for me. Hearing your concerns firsthand on not being able to buy groceries because a daycare payment did not arrive in the mail gives real meaning to the work we do here. Hearing concerns over the loss of a job, or how would the rent be paid at the end of the month are issues that demand attention. In fact it was the overwhelming amount of citizen’s I heard from that made the work we were doing here all that much more important to me.

I also know that in many cases the concerns that I heard were also being shared with members of the NDP. While I cannot speak for the NDP, I can point out that they could have continued to push on with the filibuster and further delay getting Canada Post back to work again. For whatever reason, the NDP choose not to. I would like to think it was because in small part they also heard the desperation from so many citizens whose lives were being severely impacted by this labour disagreement carrying on. This debate was, in my opinion, more about putting the rights and entitlements of a select few ahead of the responsibilities we all share as Canadians. I am thankful that in the end of this debate the interests of those who elect us and pay the taxes that run this country came first and foremost.