Mr. Speaker, as this is my last member's statement I would like to mention things I remember as the MP for Calgary Centre.
It was a chance to get to know MPs from all across Canada; to listen for the melancholy bells which bring us into the House to vote; to play musical chairs in the House of Commons; to work on my tan while playing football on Parliament's front lawn; to be affectionately referred to by the Liberals as the $150,000 man; to have the Speaker rule my definition of a bribe out of order; to need an extra two minutes to finish a 40-minute speech; to refuse, along with 50 of my colleagues, to take the gold plated pension plan as a display of leadership by example; and to represent and vote the wishes of my constituents as opposed to always having to vote the party line, proof that free votes work.
Finally, I will always remember the phrase I used when I was Reform Party whip.
"Mr. Speaker, members of the Reform Party vote yea, except for those who wish to vote otherwise".