OTTAWA -  Ron Cannan, Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country is helping local teacher, Ruth Hufnagel get an important message to his fellow Parliamentarians asking all Parliamentarians to conduct themselves with decorum the way students are encouraged to do so in the classroom and on the playground. 

“I would hope you could all rise above the interest of self and party promotion, and work together for the good of our nation; to spend time in parliament sessions to build, rather than waste time in bickering and thinking of how you can tear each other down; to put aside hatred, pride, and anger that has become so much the part of parliament sessions.  We, the Canadian citizens, have elected each one of you to work together for the good of our whole nation….. I would hope that in the future I, as a teacher, would be able to proudly encourage my students to watch parliamentary sessions as an example of how the leaders we have elected to rule our country work together and treat each other with respect.” she wrote.

Cannan says the message is important and reflects the view of the majority of people who speak with him.

“Under the current economic circumstances we have some big issues to deal with. Canadians don’t want any time wasted on partisan bickering or political positioning,” he said.   “I believe the majority of my colleagues just want to do their jobs, represent their constituents and get down to resolving issues that are posing some serious challenges for our citizens.

Cannan said he was happy to pass the letter along to all of the Members of Parliament just as the House of Commons reconvenes today for a new Parliament.

“I’m hoping we can generate enough of a consensus amongst the Members to keep things on the positive side and I would encourage other constituents to do as Ms. Hufnagel has done, said Cannan.

“It is easily within our grasp to represent different party interests while acting respectfully in a parliamentary fashion,” he said.  “I think it would make Canadians, especially young Canadians, feel proud of their Parliament and generate confidence that the women and men they elected are focusing on things that matter.”

Ms. Hufnagel’s letter follows

Dear Members of Parliament:

As a new session of parliament is to begin, I would like express what is the sentiment of many of the citizens of Canada.  I would hope you could all rise above the interest of self and party promotion, and work together for the good of our nation; to spend time in parliament sessions to build, rather than waste time in bickering and thinking of how you can tear each other down; to put aside hatred, pride, and anger that has become so much the part of parliament sessions.  We, the Canadian citizens, have elected each one of you to work together for the good of our whole nation.

There is no need to keep rehearsing what any one of the governing parties in the past has or has not done.  We can all see mistakes we have made as we look into the rearview mirror of history – there is enough blame to go around!  Besides, the present global crisis that has affected Canada can not be blamed on what we in Canada alone have or have not done.  We, the citizens of Canada, urge you to STOP REHEARSING AND BLAMING OTHERS FOR THE PAST AND GET ON WITH GOVERNING FOR THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE!

I would hope that in the future I, as a teacher, would be able to proudly encourage my students to watch parliamentary sessions as an example of how the leaders we have elected to rule our country work together and treat each other with respect.  Unfortunately, too often in the past, the conduct of some of the members of parliament has been anything but exemplary, and has not been the kind of conduct we encourage of our students in the classroom and on the playground.

Sincerely,
A concerned citizen, Ruth Hufnagel