Randall Garrison has gone from being the educator to being the one educated.
During the past two weeks the Member of Parliament for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca has been in the nationB次元官网网址檚 capital at a kind of MP school, experiencing his first taste of what is expected of him.
HeB次元官网网址檚 already learning some important lessons from his assigned political mentor, Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean Crowder, with whom he is sharing an Ottawa office.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a sprint, that serving constituents is a long-term commitment,B次元官网网址� he said of CrowderB次元官网网址檚 advice, adding that heB次元官网网址檚 quickly realizing B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 possibly get through everything, so you have to make priorities and go at it.B次元官网网址�
Like many new MPs heading to Ottawa, Garrison, 60, who worked until recently as Esquimalt councillor and a Camosun College criminal justice and political science instructor, has been on an intensive crash course in Ottawa to learn the administrative and procedural ropes.
That includes learning what it takes to hire staff and open his Ottawa and local constituency offices, which he hopes will be ready by July 1.
B次元官网网址淭his is a very quick transition for Parliament,B次元官网网址� said Garrison, adding there has only been a month to prepare when normally the new government has upwards of three months to settle before Parliament returns. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going at break-neck speed.B次元官网网址�
The political wheels in Ottawa moved at a fever-pitch pace before Parliament opened on June 2, and the rookie MP says the job has come with several surprises.
Already Garrison, who was officially sworn in last week, has been inundated with at least 40 files from constituents needing information or someone to advocate on their behalf on issues related to pensions, veterans and immigration, among others.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 why he is chomping at the bit to begin work.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the frustration of the transition period,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 would like to be able to do more than I can do right now.
B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 just open an office. My time has got to be devoted to getting it set up and run right. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not disparaging the (administrative) process. ItB次元官网网址檚 just slow.B次元官网网址�
But heB次元官网网址檚 benefited from learning from Crowder and Victoria MP Denise SavoieB次元官网网址檚 experience, especially as his schedule heats up.
B次元官网网址淧ace yourself. You canB次元官网网址檛 finish everything every day,B次元官网网址� he said of their advice. B次元官网网址淚t helps when youB次元官网网址檙e faced with a mountain of things to do.B次元官网网址�
emccracken@vicnews.com
