Carrying on with our roundup of queer MPs at the end of the sitting, I spoke to NDP MP Libby Davies after Question Period yesterday.
Q: How were your three weeks back in the new Parliament?
A: Wow, amazing. First of all, I’m still getting to know some of my new colleagues. I’m very happy that Randall Garrison is the LGBT critic for the NDP, because I know he’ll do a fabulous job. It’s been super-busy. We’re fighting the back-to-work legislation right now, and we’re going to give it our all because we see it not just as a matter that’s facing the postal workers, but all workers in terms of labour rights, the right to a pension, the right to decent wages, and all of those things. It feels pretty intense around here right now, but I feel terrific about our Official Opposition status. We went to Stornoway last night and partied. We were dancing to Lady Gaga out in the backyard in the tent, and looking around the house and visiting all the rooms. We’re on a high, but I’ll tell you there’s also a serious responsibility that we’re the Official Opposition, we’ve got to be tough but principled – you see that in the House in the way we’re bringing forward our questions and statements in debate, so I feel very good as the NDP.
Q: You’re on health committee. Any other committees?
A: Just health.
Q: Any particular projects or studies you’re looking to do on the committee?
A: We will be looking at the 2004 Health Accord. They looked at it in the Senate and it should be done at the House as well, so we’re going to push that forward that the health committee needs to examine what happened and whether it’s working or not – we know there’s lot of problems. I’m sure there’ll be others that will come forward. One thing I want to have us look at might sound a bit odd, but is the question of bed bugs. This is an issue that’s huge for people right across the country, so I’m going to try to raise that. The other thing is drug safety. I think it’s really safety that we shed the light of day on why we don’t have proper reporting and regulations – and I’m not talking about illegal drugs here, I’m talking about prescription drugs. I’m hoping that we’ll be able to bring that forward as well.
Q: What are your plans for the summer?
A: I’m going to be very busy – I’m going back to the riding. I’m going to the Canadian Medical Association conference in August, I’m going to a housing/HIV conference in New Orleans in September, I’m going to a union leadership school to speak, so I’m actually doing a fair amount of speaking. I’ll take a little bit of time off but not too much because the calendar has filled up but hey, it’s going to be a busy time.