A Member of Parliament’s working life is divided between attending to federally related issues in the constituency and working on legislation issues in Ottawa.

Parliament sits from September through June with a few breaks in between, so most of my time is spent in Ottawa. During that time, I analyze and vote on legislation in the House of Commons, prepare for and attend numerous meetings and work on the government’s agenda. Of course, the House of Commons is also in session on weekdays to debate various issues and legislation. I attend many “special interest” meetings early in the day and during the evening with a wide variety of groups and individuals from across Canada. And, parliamentarians comprise many internal groups to deal with special issues. A usual working day is 12 to 14 hours long.

I am also fortunate to have been chosen as chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. This high profile committee has examined many ground-breaking issues that have helped to shape government policy and legislation.

I work with special clerical staff and legal experts on the issues coming before the standing committee. M.P.s from all parties sit on the committee in numbers that usually reflect the size of their elected caucuses. I help to decide which issues will come before the committee and when the appropriate persons and organizations should appear. The general management of the regular meetings is also one of my key responsibilities.

The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security is at liberty to study the policies, programs and legislation of the following departments and agencies:

• Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
• Canadian Security Intelligence Service
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Canada Border Services Agency
• Correctional Service of Canada
• National Parole Board
• Canada Firearms Centre

Since this session of Parliament began in 2006, the standing committee has heard from witnesses who are experts in a wide variety of subjects. We have examined the security of agri-chemicals and agri-retail products, the arming of Canada Border Service Agency officers, the witness security program, the Canadian Firearms Program and the gun registry, emergency preparedness, the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Maher Arar controversy, the DNA Identification Act, the impact of international counterfeiting, the national no-fly list, and many other areas that are critical to public safety and national security.

As this list indicates, the standing committee deals directly with some of the most significant issues in the country, and it is an honour for me to take the helm of such an important working group. I will provide some of the highlights associated with these issues in future columns.

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