The Proof Is In The Persistence

The House of Commons has been raucus, unseemly and somewhat less than productive in these last number of years.  I was elected three years ago today, in a by-election.  I was a food bank director and professional firefighter, but nothing could have prepared me for what was about to follow.  On the day I was sworn in, I was was sworn at.  I had only just been ushered to my seat after being welcomed by the Speaker and was then informed I could assume my seat.  I had to idea where it was and as I "hunted and pecked" through the aisles looking for my chair, there were snickers from around the chamber.  It was fun.A few minutes later, I took part in my very first vote.  Of all things, it was on same-sex marriage.  The gallery was packed and emotions were in overdrive.  To be sure, there was heckling from all sections, but it was hard to ignore the language coming from the Conservative side.  I didn't know them, hadn't even met them yet, and already a salvo of crudity was vented in my direction.  I had no way of preparing for this.  I hadn't wanted to be in politics, rather preferring a quieter community life, but the party required assistance during the by-election and so I let my name be put forward. But upon my arrival in the House of Commons, I suddenly felt fortunate. This was a place I greatly honoured and when I was first ushered in, I was in a state of awe.And then came this: verbal abuse, name calling, crudity.  It was like I had come to the hockey rink to play some pick-up and found out I was up against the Broadstreet Bullies.  To be honest, I have handled all this poorly.  Not knowing how to react, I have opted instead to become more introspective, as opposed to strapping on the pads.  Personally, people have shown me respect but it's the "game" I can't understand or gain an acumen for.Many have blamed the Speaker of the House for permitting things to sink this low.  I have made my suggestions on this in this blog and to the Speaker himself.  But look what happened yesterday.  The Speaker took a strong stance against the Conservatives and how they have used their flyers sent to other ridings to bludgeon their opponents.  One particular Jewish Liberal, Irwin Cotler - a champion in Canada, a lion is Israel - was the victim of such a mailing in his own riding, branding him an "anti-Semite" and no real supporter of Israel.  Rather than slash back, he stood in the House of Commons and recounted his record, which is peerless, and asked the Speaker to intervene on his behalf because his reputation, built over decades. was being ruined.  He was the former Justice Minister for Canada and deserved better. Now he'd been reduced to being a worldwide advocate needing a personal advocate.To his credit, Speaker Peter Milliken rose in the House yesterday and concurred that, indeed, Mr. Cotler had been the victim of a "direct and personal" attack.  The Speaker went on to claim that "the mailing constitutes interference with (Cotler's) ability to perform his parliamentary functions in that its content is damaging to his reputation and his credibility."How did the Conservative government take it?  They debated the Speaker for two solid hours, claiming that it was their right to be able to send out such slander. Immigration Minister Jason Kenny became the captain of the inane, stating that this was just the conventional use of such fliers.  It was interesting to watch some of the Conservative backbenchers, however.  Many of them - a good many - had communicated in the past week their growing discomfort with what was being done.Well, how can we fight for justice overseas when government members can't even call for it within their own ranks.  Mr. Cotler did his job, as did the Speaker. The response? Continued bludgeoning.  This is not government but goon power; it's not accountability but assassination; not respectful government but reprobate action. There has been no refinement, no practicing of the nuances of understanding power. It goes on, as it did three years ago.My words here are not partisan in intent; they are human.  This wasn't the government you wanted.  For three years today I have watched it escalate and watched members of all the opposition parties being picked apart by a threshing machine of negative politics.  I have served three years, attempting to stay above the fray, and I've earned my right to my opinion.  I am a member of parliament and I ask for it to be a place of honour once again.  It would be the best anniversary present my friends across the way could grant.  And I would honour them in return.