Canada PoliticsBob Rae, Jack Layton recognized at Parliamentarians of the Year awards
MPs in our nation's capital held their version of the Oscars Monday night, at the fifth annual Parliamentarians of the Year awards.
The event, which recognizes members for parliamentary excellence, is presented annually by Maclean's and L'actualité magazines at Ottawa's Chateau Laurier.
The year's top award - the Lifetime Achievement Award - went to the late Jack Layton who died Aug. 22 while in office as opposition leader.
His widow Olivia Chow accepted the award on his behalf, reported City TV.
"This would have meant a lot to Jack," Chow told the crowd of about 300. "He loved being a parliamentarian."
Bob Rae was given the prestigious Parliamentarian of the Year award.
Macleans points out that even though Rae was first elected to parliament over 30 years ago, he's not "yesterday's man."
"He is Stephen Harper's toughest test each afternoon," wrote McLeans' writer Aaron Wherry.
"Witness that day last month when Rae led a reasoned, even heartfelt, debate on suicide prevention—a rare moment of enlightenment in a brutal fall sitting. "I still have this, maybe naive, but I don't think it is, this notion," Rae says, "that the House should be a place where big ideas are shared and people are listening to each other and trying to make progress."
Here is the full list of winners as voted on by all members of parliament:
Parliamentarian of the Year: Bob Rae (LIB); Runner up: John Baird (CON)
Hardest Working: Jason Kenney (CON); Runner up: Joe Comartin (NDP)
Best Orator: John Baird (CON); Runner up: Pat Martin (NDP)
Most Collegial: Peter Stoffer (NDP); Runner up: Rodger Cuzner (LIB)
Most Knowledgeable: Joe Comartin (NDP); Runner up: John Baird (CON)
Best Rookie: Chris Alexander (CON); Runner up: Ted Hsu (LIB)
Best Represents Constituents: Michael Chong (CON); Runner up: Denis Coderre (LIB)
