January 2012 Parliamentary Report

PARLIAMENTARY REPORT
 
Again, this year, let us review 2011.  It was a very exciting year.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
 
We started off the year celebrating five years of minority government, the longest in our country’s history.  Although it was quite an accomplishment, it is a challenge to govern with the constant threat of an election looming.  The threat turned to reality in March when the opposition together defeated the government.  I believe that Canadians did not want another costly and unnecessary election.  In any event, electors handed our Conservative party a majority government for the first time in seven years.
 
On a personal level, I made several statements in the House drawing attention to issues such as the dire situation in Libya, Sri Lanka, Iran, Sudan and Falun Gong.  I was also able to highlight the work of our new Governor General, the Hub, Connie Dietrich, Julianna Yau Yorgan and our Oktoberfest volunteers.
 
I also had the opportunity to speak on Bill C-59, the Abolition of Early Parole Act, which thankfully received Royal Assent before the election.  Since the election I have spoken in the House on C-10 the Safe Streets and Communities Act, The Youth Criminal Justice Act (part of C-10), the Budget and Government investments in green energy.
 
COMMITTEE WORK
 
After the election, I was once again selected to sit on both the Justice and Environment Committees.  My work on the Environment Committee includes the review of the Species at Risk Act, Invasive Terrestrial Species, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and an update on Plans for Ozone Monitoring.  I also sit on the Environment Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure. 
 
On the Justice Committee we completed our report on C-2 Mega Trials and it has now received Royal Assent.  We have also completed our work on C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act and it is now at second reading in the Senate.  We are continuing our study on Organized Crime.
In December I proposed that Parliament study Canada's 400 year old definition of who's a human being, with twenty-first century medical information.
 
Finally, it would not be a complete overview of the past year without mentioning the untimely death of Jack Layton.  No matter what our party affiliation, Jack was a colleague in the House of Commons and we all appreciated how hard he worked to bring the NDP to the position of the Official Opposition.  The fact that he had so little time to enjoy the fruits of his labours is disheartening.
 
I wish all of you a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.
 
Happy New Year