It began with the Federal Election on January 23rd, an event that set in place a whole new set of challenges and an incredible new learning experience. When you are a candidate for election the whole focus is on doing what it takes to get elected. It is all about the campaign. Immediately upon election the focus shifts to a job that really has three separate parts. First, there is the constituency work done by local offices that facilitate and expedite communication and problem solving between constituents and departments of the federal government. The second area of responsibility becomes the work that has to be done on your behalf in Ottawa. This involves clarifying and answering questions about the government’s policies and priorities, and advocating the interests of constituents and constituent groups. The third part is communicating to you, the citizens of the riding. This is done by way of quarterly reports, mailings, community meetings, and our website. Basically a new M.P. is faced with three jobs in one. They present an amazing opportunity and challenge. It really was and continues to be quite exciting.

Setting up the offices in Midland and Orillia and hiring staff was the first challenge. The second challenge came with the realization that no guidance and or systems or procedures for handling constituent information or problems would be passed on from the out going Member of Parliament. We literally inherited nothing but some office equipment that was delivered by the House of Commons movers. In the early days we were running an important service that was new to us, with few rules and little or no guidance.

In fairness to the previous administration, federal protocol dictates the removal and disposal of all information given in privacy to a previous Member of Parliament. Having said that it, left us with only a vague idea of what was to come. We learned quickly. We struggled to put a quality constituent support system in place as quickly as possible. It was a challenge we solved and continue to improve. At the same time the learning curve on Parliament Hill for a new M.P. is daunting.

New rules and procedures must be learned and new lines of communication established if you are to bring the concerns of the people of Simcoe North to the attention of those who can make a difference. It is a competitive work environment with 307 other M.P.s working to achieve the same level of excellence for their constituents. It is interesting, challenging and occasionally frustrating all at the same time.

When the House is in session it requires your full effort five days a week. The days start as early as 6:30 a.m. and many do not end until 10:00 p.m. or later. One full day each week is spent at the House of Commons (Duty Day); each day I am at Question Period from 2:00 pm to 3:00 p.m.; there’s four, two-hour Committee meetings per week and the preparations for them; and Caucus every Wednesday from 8:00 am to noon. During the day it’s meetings with visitors, staff and colleagues. Evenings from 6:30 pm to wrap-up is my time to return phone calls, emails, and write replies to the many constituents who pose questions and seek answers.

Friday's mean a trip back to the riding from Ottawa for the weekend. Weekends are amazingly busy meeting constituents, attending meetings with local organizations, visiting businesses and municipalities and catching up with correspondence. .

Obviously, representing 110,000 constituents and having time to do everything that requires your attention while maintaining a balanced family life is a challenge. Heather and the girls have been very considerate and enormous assets during this past year. Heather and my parents have filled in at several events that I could not get to personally. I am guessing that they and the constituency staff found the last year as much of a “blur” as I did.

Our team in the riding and in Ottawa are working as hard as we can to provide you with the service you need and deserve. You will be the ultimate judge of our efforts during the next election, but for the moment we would appreciate your feedback through our email address Stanton.b@parl.gc.ca Please feel free to drop into either of our constituency offices if there is some way we can be of service.

This has been a very brief description of the hectic life of a Member of Parliament. Attached are a collection of photos taken over the past year. I hope they give you some flavour of the year and that you find them interesting (You might even find yourself in one of them!).

This has been an amazing year and I thank you very much for the confidence you have placed in me and for the opportunity to serve you and the people of Simcoe North.