The Northern Forum breakout group.
This morning, delegates were divided into breakout groups. Naturally I was in the northern forum group. Our objective was to get on the same page regarding our message to the M.P.’s we’ll be meeting with this week. The northerners were divided into two smaller units of which I was part of NF2. We went to meet with Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Liberal M.P. for Nunavut and Vice-chair, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Committee. Even though we were talking to the converted our message had to do with the fiscal imbalance and northern communities, northern infrastructure and a vision for the north. I was very impressed with her. Tomorrow we get to pitch to a Conservative M.P.
Melissa, Larry’s Executive Assistant.
Larry Bagnell and his Executive Assistant Melissa Delaney were very gracious to me. Melissa took time to tour me around the Centre Block and arranged for a ticket to see Question Period, which I enjoyed tremendously. I used to think QP was a waste of time but now I see it in a different way. Their yelling, cat-calling and other behavior is perhaps a display of unbridled parliamentary energy. It is certainly not the business end of the legislative process but I think it is an opportunity for Parliamentarians to be unParliamentary, if you know what I mean. Nevertheless, it was tremendously entertaining to watch the government deflect shots from the opposition.
So, I got a bit of a taste of life on the Hill thanks to Larry and his staff. He certainly has energy to burn.
P.S. I had to leave the Hill right after QP for a meeting and as it turns out I missed hearing first hand the P.M.’s bombshell announcement recognizing Quebecois as a nation within a nation. This gave rise to some impassioned speeches on national unity from all sides of the house and I had to miss it all.
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