So. what do Members of Parliament do? They are supposed to represent their constituents, but how do they do this?

Most of what people see MPs do falls into two or three categories. First, people see Question Period, and other clips of debate in the House of Commons. Secondly, constituency work: The meet and greet at public forums, and other appearances in the riding are the most direct (and frequent) contact constituents have with their MP.

Members of Parliament do have other tasks, however. One of the most important is representing Canada abroad, advocating Canadian positions to diplomats and politicians in other countries around the world. We do this through a variety of methods.

One way is through inter-parliamentary associations. These are groups of elected officials who specifically reach out to politicians in other countries. For example, I am one of 12 MPs on the executive of the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group. MPs on the executive are from all of the parties in the House of Commons. We are elected to the executive by our fellow MPs.

As an executive, we are tasked with lobbying and specifically connecting with American congressman and senators. We educate them about Canada by building personal relationships with legislators south of the border. We even had breakfast with the Honorable David Wilkins, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada last Thursday. I used the opportunity to bring up the need to remove remaining BSE-related trade restrictions between our two nations.

This is just one example of how MPs work to advance Canada’s interests through parliamentary associations. MPs from all of Canada’s national parties work together not as party representatives, but as Canadians first and foremost.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament, and I welcome your feedback. Write or call my offices.