martha wickett
Black Press
Love was central to the theme of Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes’ most recent speech in the House of Commons.
Fifteen members of Parliament get a chance to give a one-minute speech each day before Question Period in the House of Commons.
Mayes has spoken on two issues so far this year – a national prayer breakfast and the forest industry.
Some MPs have their speeches pre-written for them, but Mayes says he prefers to write his own. And while some MPs make political statements, “I think it’s an opportunity for me to say some things about my constituency,” he says.
“People or events that have happened in the constituency – good news for the House and my colleagues to hear.”
He notes that he has spoken about such topics as Neskonlith elder Mary Thomas, the Salmon Arm Secondary brass band which performed in Ottawa, Dorothy Askew and the Askew family, and sit-skier Josh Dueck.
On Feb. 15, his speech centered around the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC he attended that was hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama.
He said more than 3,500 delegates representing government, business and clergy leaders from the U.S. and 123 other countries attended the breakfast. Keynote speaker was author Eric Metaxas.
“The theme of the event was the great commandment contained in the Good Book: ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself,’ and ‘serve one another in love,’” Mayes told the House.
“Public policy, military strength or redistribution of wealth is not the recipe for peace in the world,” he continued. “Only the divine spirit of love will overcome oppression, hate and aggression. This message is so simple to see. Why is it so hard to attain?
Regarding the forest industry, he told the House on Feb. 9:
“Canada’s forest sector was hit hard during the recession. Our government acted to create jobs and economic growth in our forestry communities across Canada,” he said.
“However, we did not just hand out money randomly, like the opposition would have us do, but targeted it to put the industry on a more sustainable path through investment and market diversification.”
