June 2011 Parliamentary Report

PARLIAMENTARY REPORT


OPPORTUNITIES

Our new Parliament offers the hope of new opportunities.  The four year term of a majority government offers the opportunity to focus on constructive legislating rather than the constant insecurity of ever-present election threats.
 
The arrival of many new Members offers the opportunity of fresh idealism and renewed civility to replace bad habits of heckling and interrupting.  May thoughtful conviction and inspired oratory replace undisciplined passion and heated rhetoric in the sacred chamber of our democracy, the House of Commons.
 
The NDP's new responsibility brings an opportunity to refine its policy based on the practical limits of a liberal democracy.  An Opposition that truly considers itself a government in waiting must abandon extreme ideology in favour of principled moderate governance.
 
This Parliament is pregnant with positive possibilities.  I pledge to do my part to bring them to reality.
 

PARLIAMENTARY EVENTS

June 3rd will mark our Government's first Throne Speech and June 6th our first Budget for the 41st Parliament.  These will follow our campaign commitments, so there will be few or no surprises.  Our comprehensive criminal law reform Bill will not be far behind.
 
Also, Parliamentary Committees will be reconstituted.  My preferences remain Justice, Environment and Foreign Affairs.  However, I am prepared to serve where needed most.
 
Parliament ordinarily rises in the third or fourth week of June, but it will be challenging to accomplish everything necessary by that time this month.
 



CAMPAIGN COMMITMENTS

Some suggest that the Government should not pursue its campaign commitments in the Throne Speech and Budget.  They suggest that instead the Government should incorporate parts of the Opposition election platform, since not all Canadians supported the Government platform and many in fact supported the Opposition platform.  Only our "first past the post" electoral system puts the Government in a position to implement its platform.
 
In over forty years, since I first became active in politics, this suggestion has never before been seriously proposed in Canada. 
 
In fact, our system of British Parliamentary democracy has never required that a Government achieve electoral support of 50% plus one vote to legitimately implement its platform.  Rather, the principle of accountability has always compelled a successful Party to live up to its platform commitments.  Failing to live up to election promises, when able to do so, would only disillusion voters.
 
My view is that political leaders should always say what they mean and mean what they say, never more so than during elections and their aftermath.  For that reason, I believe the novel approach now proposed by some would not be sound policy.
 

YOUR VIEWS
 
I continue to welcome your views on all matters relating to the Government of Canada.  I can be reached at woodworth.s@parl.gc.ca.