Thank you very much.
Good morning, and thank you for allowing me to participate in this discussion.
Something happened this weekend that made me stop and say, “What the fuck. Why do shitty things happen to good people?”
I've known my sister-in-law's brother and wife for some 30 years. Over the years they have lost a son to a motor vehicle accident, and a year and half ago their other son became a victim of the opioid crisis that we find ourselves in. Three weeks ago the wife was diagnosed with cancer and died on Saturday. So here he is, my sister-in-law's brother is all alone. His family unit that he and his wife created is gone. Anyone's life can change in a blink of an eye. I know this all too well.
On October 18, 1992, we were thrown into every parent's worst nightmare. While walking home from the bus stop, our son Jesse and two of his friends were set upon by six other older and bigger youths. In the ensuing scuffle, Jesse was stabbed in the back, which pierced his heart and lungs. A quarter of an inch would have made a difference. A young man's life was cut short at 16 in a matter of minutes.
From 1993 to 1997, my late husband and I, with incredible friends, formed a non-profit organization called CRY, or Crime, Responsibility and Youth, to lobby for changes to the Young Offenders Act.
In June 1997, my husband, Chuck, was elected MP for Surrey North. In 2004, Chuck was diagnosed with cancer, and the following months were filled with doctor appointments, surgery, chemo and drugs. Physically, it was getting harder and harder to travel back and forth from our home in B.C. to Ottawa. His last flight from Ottawa was in May 2005 after the vote that saved the government from an election. He died on July 9, 2005. Three years later, I was elected in Surrey North, and served from 2008 to 2011. I can speak as an MP and as a spouse from experience.
Our point of being elected is to be the voice of our community that elected us. Sitting in Ottawa does us no favours. The jet lag from back and forth travelling can play havoc with your health. In our case, it was only three hours twice a week, but when you counted door-to-door travel, it added on 20 hours. For some MPs, it was worse.
COVID changed everything. Virtual meetings became a normal way of conducting business, and keeping in touch with friends and families. Chuck would have loved to be able to participate while recovering from surgery. Mentally he was fine, but the body was suffering. You can't ignore the fact that jet lag plays a prominent role in a person's health, with multiple time zones. The thought of staying in the riding but still participating in government proceedings, wow, this sounds so good!
This October 18 will be the 30th year since our tragic family event that drove both me and my late husband, Chuck, into politics. Much has changed, but much hasn't. We need more efficient government for our constituents. Let's not let tradition be an enemy of our progress.
Thank you.