Less than three weeks have passed since they were elected and, now, Tri-City MPs Ron McKinnon and Fin Donnelly are in Ottawa — the first as a rookie whose party is in power, the latter an incumbent looking to continue challenging the government.
The Liberals' McKinnon, who replaced Conservative MP James Moore, who retired from politics, got a tour of the House of Commons this week with other fresh faces of all political stripes from across Canada.
And during their jam-packed session, they even got a visit from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"The clerk said it was the first time in his history he had seen a PM address the new MPs at orientation," said McKinnon, the MP for the new riding of Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam. "He pledged to work together and provide better legislation for this country."
McKinnon said he's expecting to be officially sworn in within the next two weeks — when the clerk is available — and prior to the first House sitting on Dec. 3 (the throne speech is the following day).
At home, McKinnon and his team are looking for a suitable constituency office that's central for residents in his riding but, for now, "just being here [in Ottawa] and just being in this town is pretty good," he told The Tri-City News during a break from meetings.
Meanwhile, NDP MP Fin Donnelly, who clinched his third term Oct. 19 as MP for the new riding of Port Moody-Coquitlam (he previously was MP for New Westminster-Coquitlam), said he'll stay put in his current constituency office at 1116 Austin Ave. in Coquitlam.
Donnelly has also indicated to NDP Leader Tom Mulcair he wishes to stay with his previous portfolios of western fisheries and infrastructure (the critic roles are expected to be doled out by next week).
Donnelly said plans to hold those ministers accountable to the Liberals' campaign promises: re-opening the Kitsilano Coast Guard base; re-establishing veterans' affairs offices; making good on the Cohen Report recommendations for fisheries renewal; and allowing the immigration of 25,000 refugees to Canada by the end of the year.
Donnelly said he's "optimistic" the new Liberal government can help Tima Kurdi, the Coquitlam woman who lost relatives trying to escape to Europe by boat and whom Donnelly has been assisting for months. He said immigration officials have already been in contact with Kurdi about her brother, who lost his wife and two children.
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