Dan in Ottawa
Rare agreement: welcome change
Never let it be said that democratic diversity is not alive and well in Okanagan-Coquihalla. Each week I am fortunate to receive a significant amount of...
Hold online bullies accountable
With the House of Commons back in session this week there will be a number of different votes occurring largely on Bills that I have referenced in previous...
Questions surround Question Period
As the House of Commons is currently on the Thanksgiving break week until October 15^th there is one area of Parliamentary business that I have yet to discuss...
A new Lieutenant-Governor for BC
One aspect of the weekly Parliament Hill events cycle that I have neglected to mention in my recent reports is Opposition day motions. Also known as...
Fall Session: analyzing issues
Fall Session brings both discussion and analysis of issues. In light of the recent announcement that the BC Legislature would not hold a fall session I wanted...
Fall session starts with Accountability
It was one year ago that I was headed to Ottawa for my first fall session in the House of Commons. The fall sessions have become somewhat legendary over the...
Ending violence against women
By this time next week the House of Commons will have again resumed session and I will be back in Ottawa for 10 of the next 12 weeks and the next major break in...
First Nations and land use
It is often said that there are two sides to an issue and from my relatively brief experience as a Member of Parliament and previously as a city councillor,...
Fair play for local, national issues
Last fall I heard from a number of constituents who expressed their concerns over allegations made regarding automated phone calls during the last federal...
Speaking about the Speaker
This week residents of the Okanagan learned that long term local MLA Bill Barisoff will be retiring from public office at the conclusion of his term in April of...
Listening tour opportunity to discuss past and future issues
Although Canada’s next general election is not schedule to occur until 2015, there could potentially be some major changes that may be of interest to...
The politics of who rather than what
One of the questions I am often asked during my summer listening tour and in particular when meeting with local government representatives is on the differences...
Low taxes and reductions
One aspect of my weekly MP reports that I find very beneficial is that the reports often generate independent discussion from a diverse group of citizens who...
Debunking myths & clarifying facts
As much as it is often suggested that we are increasingly living in an era of information, the amount of misinformation that circulates on a daily basis...
Canada makes UN's top ten list
Most citizens have heard of the serious financial troubles facing countries like Greece, Spain, Italy and the Eurozone in general as cash strapped government...
Ideas for a stronger Canada
My annual summer listening tour is once again proving to be a very valuable exercise in allowing me to hear firsthand the concerns from many of the...
Canada Day: A favourite time of year
One of my favourite times of the year has always been Canada Day. Since becoming a Member of Parliament I have found new meaning to the celebration for all that...
A productive session for a new MP
With the House of Commons rising last Thursday I have now completed my first full year of the Parliamentary cycle. Looking back on the past twelve months it is...
Two sides of a vote for Bill C-38
This week I will be voting in full support of Bill C-38 the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act. My support for this Bill will be a disappointment for...
Supporting our wine industry
The past two weeks have been amongst the most challenging I have yet to encounter in Parliament, largely on account of working to get my private member’s...