Doug's Blog

Sometimes You Just Have To Laugh . . .

Sometimes you just have to laugh . . . at anything.  I got up this morning at 6am, just as I do most everyday and headed into the office in the Legislature for a long day.  Everyday I start off with a lot of reading and letters, all on very serious matters that require my full and immediate attention.  I have meetings with Ministers, again, over constituency or province wide matters that require immediate attention because they are of such a serious matter.  Caucus begins at 11am where we discuss deep and meaningful issues that are of the upmost urgency and importance to Albertans.  We begin session at 1:30pm with Question Period where questions and answers come fast and furious on all of the critical matters of the day and week.  More meetings at 5:30, when we adjourn from the House, over critical issues and legislation that simply must be addressed.  Finally back into the House at 7:30pm to carry on with the urgent government business that has so many Albertans watching live on the internet.  Typically a long and serious day, repleat with emergent issues, and emergencies of all kinds.

Tonight, however, as we sit in the Legislature, we got to have some fun as well.  The Leader of the Official Opposition brought forward, as his last motion in this House, a Private Members Motion that calls on the Provincial Government to make rodeo the official sport of the Province of Alberta.  It actually was a short but entertaining debate.  Most members discussed how rodeo has impacted their lives and told stories about their rodeo experiences.  The member could have brought forward a very serious motion that made some statement about him and his view on the province, but he chose to bring forward a motion that made a statement about his appreciation and understanding of Alberta and Albertans, and brought some levity to the Chamber.  I appreciated this debate.  It actually gave all members to be themselves and express themselves in a climate of non-partisianship.  So to that member, I will say thank you, on behalf of myself and those constituents who are involved in rodeo, who work on farms, and who have an appreciation for so much of what is a significant historical element of this province.  Thank you.  And thank you for bringing a little levity into such a serious job where we always handle serious issues day after day.  Sometimes we just have to laugh.  Thank you.