Rookie Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu is making friends and influencing people on Parliament Hill.
So much so, the Petrolia resident was one of six MPs honoured by Maclean’s Magazine in its Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. MPs from across party lines tell the weekly news magazine who they think is doing a good job. Gladu was cited as being the “Most Collegial Parliamentarian” for working across party lines on a variety of issues.
Gladu, who is the Conservative’s science critic, argued with her own party’s stand on the long-form census. The Harper government got rid of it. The Liberals reinstated it and Gladu celebrated the change.
She’s also supported the Liberals new science plan, which includes allowing scientists to talk about their discoveries. Under the Harper government, they were muzzled.
Gladu is very excited about the honour. She has known for a while she was in the running and was a “finalist” who was invited to the awards ceremony. That’s where she was given the honour.
“I just want to do the right thing for Canada,” says the MP. “I’ve tried to bring a higher level of professionalism and respect to the house.”
“In business I’ve found you can have diverging views and if you listen to them, you can come up with a better solution. That was what I was trying to bring.”
“I feel very pleased to be among the likes of Ed Broadbent, and Tom Mulcair who was parliamentarian of the year and Rona Ambrose who was voted Hardest Working…. and me the rookie. I was really thrilled.”
“They like the way I work and we’re achieving results and so I think Canadians want more of that. I think they want everybody in the House to work cooperatively for a better result for Canada.”