Finishing off our roundup of gay MPs in advance of an election, I spoke to Liberal Scott Brison just before the non-confidence vote that brought down the government.
Q: Are you ready to go?
A: Yes. There’s always last-minute [issues]. This is my sixth election, and I never, ever take my riding for granted, and I work hard between elections. I always work hard during campaigns in my riding and in other parts of the country as [well as my] riding. But I never take my riding for granted – ever, ever, ever.
Q: Any unfinished business here that you’re sad to abandon?
A: This has been a sulphuric Parliament, and the reality is that what I’ve been working on for the past four months is getting the government to tell the truth about the cost of their legislation. That process commenced really in October-November and culminates with today’s votes. I view that with mixed emotions – on the one hand I could view it as an accomplishment, that that initiative and that demand for accountability, transparency and respect for Parliament ultimately led to this government being flushed out for their contempt for Parliament, but I actually view it with mixed emotions, because I’m rather saddened as a Canadian in having a government that is the first government in Canadian history to be found in contempt of Parliament, and the first government in the British parliamentary system to be found in contempt of Parliament. I find it embarrassing as a Canadian citizen. The real unfinished business here is the work on behalf of Canadians to help Canadian families and to strengthen Canadian pensions and to invest in learning and healthcare, and this government’s priorities have been inconsistent with that. In fact, their priorities have threatened progressive investments and fiscal responsibility.
Q: What’s your read on your competition?
A: I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about them. I do my job, work hard, and I’ll leave that up to the people of Kings-Hants. I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the other guys. I just focus on doing my job.
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