What do members of Parliament do on their summer ‘vacations’?

Parliament adjourned on June 26 and is scheduled to return on September 19.

So, members of parliament get a three month vacation, right?

Not quite, according to veteran Ottawa reporter Barry Wilson.

"In truth, weekends and summers back in the riding are no holiday," he wrote on his blog.

"Constituents want a piece of their time, communities want to see them at events, party officials want them at this or that event. As very public people, they have a difficult time finding private down time unless they leave."

A review of MPs' tweets and Facebook status updates gives some insight into what our elected officials are doing over the summer.

Most MPs seem to be spending the time engaging with constituents either in their office or at community events.

MP Kerry-Lynn Findlay, for example, invited residents of her riding to her office.

"Great Constituency Week! 100+ came to our Open House!" she wrote on Twitter. "We hosted a successful stakeholders meeting on seniors."

Michelle Rempel, member for Calgary Centre North, shared her event calendar in a series of tweets:

"Celebrating the #Banff Centre for Performing Arts at its Midsummer's Ball."

"Excited 2 b racing in the #YYC Dragon Boat Festival charity race on Sunday in support of the Red Cross Slave Lake Fund."

"In #winnipeg for #folklorama."

Conservative MP Chris Alexander has been busy visiting local businesses.

"Just visited Gerdau in Whitby — Canada's premiere long steel producer with over 500 employees, most resident in Durham." he tweeted.

It's not all work and no play for all MPs. Some have been able to find time for a vacation.

Vancouver Quadra MP Joyce Murray visited Israel with her husband.

Conservative MP Mike Lake went on a family road trip through the United States, where he visited Mount Rushmore, the Lincoln Museum and Yellowstone National Park.

"Lake family road trip now over 10,500 km," he wrote. "Less sick of driving than expected."

(Photo: Reuters)