A political point of view
Touring Parliament Hill with your local MP
By Peter Van Loan MP, York-Simcoe

MP Peter Van Loan

With spring here, Parliament Hill begins to fill up with visitors, including many from York-Simcoe on school trips and family excursions.

It's a great time to be up in our nation's capital, enjoying the newly thawed Rideau Canal, the slowly greening banks of the Ottawa River, and the blooming tulips of Parliament Hill.

Of course, the highlight for many is a visit the Parliament buildings. You can take a tour through the majestic old building, watch the traditional Speaker's Parade, head up the Peace Tower for an expansive view of Ottawa, and observe Question Period.

I love greeting visitors from the riding. In my role as Government House Leader, I have an opportunity to show visitors some of the more interesting parts of parliament that aren't on the normal, official tour.

When you arrive, after clearing the increasingly vigilant security, you will go up to the main floor (the second floor). If you are here around Question Period, you might have to navigate past journalists and MPs, with barely enough time or space for a close look at the portraits of former prime ministers that line the walls.

At the end of the hallway, the west end of Centre Block, you will enter into a spacious lobby, the foyer of the House of Commons. The vaulted ceiling, decorated with the coats of arms and the flowers of Canada's provinces, the marble floor, and the sculpted walls create a noble atmosphere, only to be contrasted by the bustle of camera and microphone carrying journalists mingling with (or ambushing) parliamentarians during daily scrums.

In the farthest corner of the foyer you will find my office. Many call it the best office on the hill. We will sit down at the long, oak conference table, or in one of the comfy chairs, and allow the wood-carved ceiling and the rich, warm, carved wood walls to impress us. I am still in awe of the beautiful environment in which I have the privilege of working for you. Of course, I will not be able to resist giving you a description of each painting and bust I have of Sir John A. Macdonald, our country's founder and our national hero.

Some lucky visitors in the past have experienced the opportunity to join me in visiting the government lobby, the private lounge area for MPs behind the back doors in the House of Commons. There, the chance encounter with MPs and cabinet ministers can provide a story for friends and family back home.

Sometimes, I have even had a chance to take folks upstairs to the prime minister's office, which is directly above mine, or to peak into the cabinet meeting room which is located there.

On other occasions, a visit into the grand room where the national caucus meets every Wednesday is a possibility.

While I would be delighted to greet you on Parliament Hill, you might want to plan your visit soon, while I am still Government House Leader. You never know when we will face an election in a minority parliament.

With the current Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, this government does keep going. While Dion has been threatening an election for a year and a half, he keeps backing down. We've seen Liberals not show up to vote against our GST reduction, our environmental plan and even our economic stimulus package. On our tackling violent crime bill, they even walked out of the House en masse to avoid voting and causing an election. Regardless of how erratically the opposition acts, however, this Conservative government will continue to deliver on our commitment, ignoring the follies of the other side. But then again, this may just give you time for a visit.

If you are in Ottawa in the next little while, I invite you to contact Darlene Stone in my Parliament Hill office to arrange for a time for a visit. For more information, call her at 613- 996-7752, fax 613-992- 8351, or e-mail vanlop0@parl.gc.ca.