In the old days, the House Speaker would host a Christmas party for all MPs, with plenty of carols sung to ring in the holiday season, and MPs really were friends, even those on opposite sides of the House. We all knew we had a job to do involving politics, but after hours, a lot of us socialized together. The result was a more humanized working environment.
By Sheila Copps
First published in The Hill Tiimes on December 23, 2021.
OTTAWA—Christmas used to be a time when parliamentarians on all sides of the House would get together in the holiday spirit.
Sometimes, the spirit had a twist. One Christmas, during a Progressive Conservatives majority, Santa Claus joined the children’s Christmas party dressed in blue from head to toe. Unfortunately, the colour change startled some kids and they ran out of the place crying. The next year, he returned in his regular red suit.
The other thing that political parties would do at Christmas is get together for a sing-along. After the swords were put down during the parliamentary debate in the Commons, the House Speaker would host a party for all, with plenty of carols sung to ring in the holiday season.
Even the public broadcaster joined in, with the CBC usually running a radio show featuring Members of Parliament from all sides of the house with a new take on an old Christmas carol. In those days, parliamentarians really were friends, even those on opposite sides of the House.
We all knew we had a job to do involving politics, but after hours, many would all adjourn to the National Press Club across the street from the Hill to join in holiday chatter and drinks, invited by members of the media to raise a glass together.
The result was a more humanized working environment. Most members of the press gallery knew politicians as human beings, and in some cases, friends. That didn’t mean they backed away from a story. But it did mean that they approached their work with the notion that the subject of their interview was a person with family, friends, and a likability quotient. It meant that all stories were viewed through a human lens.
Nowadays, there is no time to humanize the Hill. Reporters have little time to pursue more than the basics of their stories.
And politicians certainly don’t have the opportunity to sit around a piano and share a holiday song.
In the interest of past history, I reworked an old classic with a political twist.
“On the first day of Christmas elections sent to me, a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the second day of Christmas elections sent to me, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in Parliament—yippee.
“On the third day of Christmas elections sent to me, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the fourth day of Christmas elections sent to me, four votes completed, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the fifth day of Christmas elections sent to me, five golden handshakes, four votes completed, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the sixth day of Christmas, elections sent to me, six members braying, five golden handshakes, four votes completed, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the seventh day of Christmas elections sent to me, seven scribes a scribbling, six members braying, five golden handshakes, four votes completed, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the eighth day of Christmas elections sent to me, eight lobbyists milking, seven scribes a scribbling, six critics braying, five golden handshakes, four votes completed, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the ninth day of Christmas, elections sent to me, nine members mumbling, eight lobbyists milking, seven scribes a scribbling, six critics braying, five golden handshakes, four votes completed, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the tenth day of Christmas elections sent to me, ten judges judging, nine members mumbling, eight lobbyists milking, seven scribes a scribbling, six critics braying, five golden handshakes, four votes completed, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the eleventh day of Christmas, elections sent to me, eleven gripers griping, ten judges judging, nine members mumbling, eight lobbyists milking, seven scribes a scribbling, six critics braying, five golden handshakes, four votes completed, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.
“On the twelfth day of Christmas, elections sent to me, twelve maces marching, eleven gripers griping, ten judges judging, nine members mumbling, eight lobbyists milking, seven scribes a scribbling, six critics braying, five golden handshakes, four votes completed, three legal challenges, two premiers whining and a Trudeau in government—yippee.”
Happy Holidays to all and hopefully the new year will bring peace and joy to Parliament!
Sheila Copps is a former Jean Chrétien-era cabinet minister and a former deputy prime minister. Follow her on Twitter at @Sheila_Copps.
