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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 261

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 4, 2023 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 261 - Dec/4/23
The Speaker
  • Dec/4/23 11:04:29 a.m.
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The Chair would like to make a brief statement in light of a video message that was played this past weekend at a provincial party convention. I was asked to record a video to be played at an intimate gathering for a long-standing friend who was leaving his position, and I agreed to do it. I regret that this video was used for purposes other than for what it was intended. Hon. colleagues, it was played at a convention for a party that I am not a member of, in a province where I do not live in and where I have been unable to vote for nearly three decades. It was a non-political message to a personal friend of more than 34 years. He and his wife played an important role in my and my wife's early lives as a new couple, eventually newlyweds and later young parents. In a region where we did not have any relatives, they were our family. Before we all became politicians, we were just people. After we leave politics, we will be just people. More important, while we serve here as parliamentarians, we are people. Like all members, I have deep and abiding relationships with people from all political backgrounds. It should not be seen as partisan to recognize a colleague's departure. It is an act of friendship and respect. Nonetheless, I recognize how this could have been interpreted. I want to apologize and to reassure members. An incident like this will not happen again. I would like to reassure members that the principles of respect, impartiality and decorum are values I continue to prioritize for my tenure as Speaker. If members would like to raise questions about the subject of my statement, then I will recuse myself from that debate. I thank hon. members for their attention.
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