Evidence of meeting #162 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was first.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON
It's good that I am here today, being someone who has shadowed this fine gentleman in Hamilton for some 14 years now. Of course, he predates me by many years.
Let me say this. There are some things that are consistent about David Christopherson. One of them is that he usually does not need a microphone to make his point. Secondly, no one in Hamilton ever wants to follow him on the platform after he has spoken.
I'll tell you, for 14 years, there has never been a partisan word from him, publicly, about me. I hope that I have kept that end of it as well. In fact, on many occasions, Mr. Christopherson has actually stood in front of audiences and commended me, so he is a parliamentarian who understands that, yes, we have to fight vociferously over policies that we sometimes profoundly disagree about, but we're all still human. We all still go home, have issues and wish to try to be dignified and decent human beings together.
That's what is most impressive to me about David Christopherson, and I see in him at home and in his actions in that regard.
His public service has always been like that. I have talked to those who have worked with him on council and who also, apparently, profoundly disagreed with him on many issues, but are still his friends, because of the way he dealt with them personally.
Knowing that, there is one thing that David has repeated to me. He said, “When we're on the ground here, it's about supporting our community—supporting Hamilton.” He's lived by that for all the time I've known him.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
The first time I encountered David was when I was working for a guy you might have heard of, Scott Simms, on the public accounts committee, where we served very briefly. My observation, because David Christopherson was the chair at the time, was that he was the first chair I had ever encountered who could filibuster his own committee.
I have learned a lot from you, David, and it's been quite fun, because on our first day here—as I have said in the past—we had a fairly tense exchange in our very first interaction, so I thought, “Okay, that's a good start.”
I do want to express some concern that when you leave, whoever replaces you from the NDP on this committee—or if it's multiple people; we'll see—will have your values in making sure that this committee can work in a non-partisan way. There are people in this place, in all parties, who are ruthlessly partisan, in a completely inappropriate way, and you're not.
We've been able to function because I think, on all sides, we have that here. I just want to say how much I appreciate that and how much I learned from you over the last four years of working with you.
Thank you.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
He doesn't predate me, I can tell you that. In 2004, my friend, it was the Paul Martin minority government, and I went from government to opposition to third party and back to government. That's one thing I've got on you—
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
—that I've been all around the circle.
There's an old joke in Newfoundland where a Newfoundlander and, I'll say, a Hamiltonian were in the woods one day and a big grizzly bear walked out and growled and showed his teeth. The Newfoundlander bent over and started tying up his shoe and the Hamiltonian asked, “You don't think you're going to outrun that bear, do you?” The Newfoundlander says, “No, I just just have to outrun you.”
The reason I bring up that story is that this is the type of business where we mark our own personal performance by the marching of others. On many occasions I find myself giving my interventions that, one, are at least understood by all and, two, using a cadence that will keep everyone's attention—at least for a short period, until I get my main point out.
David did that with such absolutely astonishing ease. He made it seem so easy. The best professional athletes make their profession look easy, and David does that. He makes this profession look easy, but it's not easy. I've seen him on television and in the House and certainly at committee, and it's the passion that he brings from the grassroots to here. I say “grassroots” in the strictly political sense, from the municipal level to the provincial and now federal level.
I think the past few weeks are a good way to summarize his opinion about how this place should work, because I have noticed with a great deal of angst that what has really driven him to a point of anger, which I didn't see before, was the idea of a dissenting report. Dissension was starting to get under David's skin, and it's still there perhaps. Whether or not we have a dissenting report, I think is a testament to how he wants us all to get along or, as he likes to say, “come along”.
Anyway, David, you will be missed. I had a card for you here.
Liberal
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
We're working on a card. All the best, my friend.
I suspect you will not be with title, but certainly with opinion, and one that I hope you never extinguish. David, all the best.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Thank you, Scott.
Before I go to Ruby, I also appreciate the passion with which you continue to make the point that the security of Parliament shouldn't be in the hands of the government. It's a very substantial point. Thank you for that.
Now we'll go to Ruby.
Liberal
Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I wish I could say I've had as many terms and as much history with you, Mr. Christopherson. My time with you has been short, but it has been very sweet. It has just been this one term. I really wish you would stay longer, so I could have many more terms of experience with you, because my term on this committee has definitely been very enjoyable.
I've learned a lot. You definitely scared me on the first day. I thought what am I doing here? What is happening? After that initial shock wore off, I could see that the words that you speak always come from a place of truth and with a lot of integrity. I have a lot of respect for you. I don't think you'll ever understand the impact that experienced members have on newer members. We walk in your footsteps, and it's nice to see that we can have mentors on different sides of the aisle. Thank you for helping all the junior members along the way this first term.
You'll always be remembered in this place. I hope we're able to live up to always speaking our mind no matter what the circumstances, and feeling good about ourselves at the end of the day. I'm sure you have no problem sleeping at night because you have always made your position clear. I think that's really important and people respect a politician who comes to this place and does not forget the people who brought them here and what they believe.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I'll now add a bit of French to this discussion.
That's good for you. You will miss that in Hamilton, the French.
Liberal
Linda Lapointe Liberal Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
You may recall that I first met you at a meeting of the Standing Committee on National Defence, when I was replacing a colleague. At that time, I was impressed by how you promoted your ideas, but above all by your understanding of the issues. Obviously, you knew how to advocate for your interests and argue.
When I joined the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs in September—I was the last member appointed—you impressed me once again. We were studying Bill C-76, and I had the impression that I was taking a course on filibustering. You certainly promote and debate your ideas with conviction, and you deserve full credit for it.
As Ms. Sahota said, we learn a great deal from observing our more experienced colleagues and from never losing sight of our objectives and the interests of our constituents.
Thank you.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
I wanted to ask Mr. Christopherson, and perhaps Mr. Simms if I could ask him.... We talked about your progression from the municipal level to the provincial and federal levels, which begs the question: What's next? Is it the UN or the CSA?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Can I have permission from the committee to go a few minutes into the bells?
