With the wheels of Parliament turning full tilt into the fall session, the standing committees have returned to perform the real work on behalf of Canadians.

I am very pleased to have been re-elected chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. As is the case with all standing committees, ours is comprised of members of Parliament from the government and opposition sides of the House of Commons. After legislation is debated and passed by the House that relate to our committee’s mandate, it is sent to us for closer examination. The Senate of Canada has its own separate committee system where legislation is re-examined before it becomes law.

It is an honour to be elected as committee chair by all parties because it is a vote of confidence in the objectivity and abilities of the individual they choose. Some people have told me that they believe my experience as a school teacher and principal helps me to maintain an environment that is tough but fair.

The role of the chair is an interesting one. Since the committees’ composition mirrors that of the House, there are currently more opposition MPs around the table than government members. The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security has acquired a reputation for completing its work assignments and moving legislation forward in the public interest. There is no doubt that partisan politics do surface at committee, but I am pleased that our members have so far focused on getting the job done.

This session promises to be exciting as we examine some of the high-profile security issues on behalf of Canadians. Last session, we studied the security of agriculture chemicals and retail products, arming Canada’s border guards, the protection of witnesses at risk for giving evidence in court, the Canadian Firearms Program and the gun registry, emergency preparedness, the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Maher Arar controversy, the bill that makes it possible to collect and keep a criminal’s DNA, the impact on Canadians of international counterfeiting of a wide variety of products, the national no-fly list, and many other issues.

There is some important business coming before Parliament and soon some of it could end up before our committee for a full assessment. We have the authority to call in expert witnesses to answer questions and provide input to MPs who will recommend how the government should proceed. Committee work is the unnoticed component of the political machine where MPs provide valuable recommendations on how Canada should prepare for the future by passing effective laws.

Many Canadians believe the daily media coverage of Question Period represents the work of MPs when they are in Ottawa. In reality, Question Period provides a mere glimpse of the noisy partisan world of federal politics. To get a real look at what goes on in Ottawa and how legislation is molded by our elected officials, one must take a close look at the committee system and the reports it generates. Only then can one get a clear picture of what members of Parliament contribute to the welfare of Canada.

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