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MP Attendance: Canadian MPs With 10 Worst Records During The 41st Parliament So Far (PHOTOS)

The Huffington Post Canada   First Posted: 03/ 1/2012 10:09 am Updated: 03/ 1/2012 11:20 am

Mp Attendance Canada
NDP leadership contenders dominate the list of MPs with the worst attendance records in Canada's House Of Commons. (CP/Alamy)

While most of us would get fired if we didn't show up for work, for an MP in Canada attendance is optional.

The website How'd They Vote keeps a record of when MPs play hooky and the list for the 41st Parliament so far is dominated by NDP leadership contenders.

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Niki Aston, Peggy Nash, Nathan Cullen, Paul Dewar, Thomas Mulcair and Romeo Saganash (who has now dropped out) all make the top 10. The only reason Brian Topp and Martin Singh are absent is because they aren't MPs.

The Bloc's Maria Mourani, who recently lost in the party's leadership contest to Daniel Paillé, also makes the list.

But it's not just leadership contenders who have been missing work. Two Tory ministers are also in the top 10.

Ed Fast, as Minister for International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, has a decent excuse, since his portfolio requires him to travel extensively. But Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also makes the top 10.

NDP MP Sana Hassainia's appearance on the list isn't unexpected, since she is a new mother. Hassainia recently made headlines after she was asked to leave the House for bringing her baby along (the matter has since been amicably resolved).

No Liberal MPs make the top 10, but interim Liberal leader Bob Rae just missed. He has the 11th worst attendance record in the House with 52 absences so far.

Big pension, high pay, attendance optional — Where do I sign up?

The 10 Worst MP Attendance Records
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Here are the 10 MPs with the most absences during Canada's 41st Parliament so far. Statistics from How'd They Vote. (Alamy)
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1. Romeo Saganash - NDP - 94 absences
2. Maria Mourani - Bloc Quebecois - 82 absences
3. Thomas Mulcair - NDP - 74 absences
3. Paul Dewar - NDP - 74 absences
5. Nathan Cullen - NDP - 70 absences
6. Ed Fast - Conservative - 67 absences
7. Peggy Nash - NDP - 62 absences
8. Niki Ashton - NDP - 61 absences
9. Sana Hassainia - NDP - 60 absences
10. Gerry Ritz - Conservative - 54 absences

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While most of us would get fired if we didn't show up for work, for an MP in Canada attendance is optional. The website How'd They Vote keeps a record of when MPs play hooky and the list for the 41...
While most of us would get fired if we didn't show up for work, for an MP in Canada attendance is optional. The website How'd They Vote keeps a record of when MPs play hooky and the list for the 41...
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TT Esty1
Failure is a temporary condition.
146 Fans
12:00 AM on 06/14/2012
Perhaps, the research could be extended to listing the Members who actually do something when in attendance and then a listing of those who do something when not in attendance. Remember, the NDP have a 400+ page Trojan Horse Bill to research while most Conservatives can just kick back and pretend that they have actually read the Bill.

Even when they do get up to speak, the speech has been prepared by some mysterious mandarin. Even Miller of the 'hitler' fame looks pleased when he could read the conservative talking points with hardly a stumble.
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SuesW
40 Fans
01:01 AM on 03/05/2012
the ndp ones I can understand as they're out of the house due to being in the election, I even thought there was a rule that they had to do that, otherwise they'd end up getting more attention and media coverage if they were in the house.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pjlowry
138 Fans
 
11:15 PM on 03/01/2012
This is a job, but they are acting like it's an entitlement. If they are not in the house of commons, they should be in an office, doing work and available to speak with constituents. Shameful...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Filthy
173 Fans
06:18 PM on 03/01/2012
How could Romeo Saganash miss 94 days of an 85 day session? The 41st parliament has thus far, only sat for 85 days.

[ http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/SittingDays.aspx?Menu=HOC-Procedure&Chamber=03d93c58-f843-49b3-9653-84275c23f3fb ]

They must be counting the 40th and 41st session, although they seem to state in the opening paragraph that this is attendance of the 41st session. I'm perplexed.
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yak
23 Fans
05:45 PM on 03/01/2012
Interesting. But what about MPs who are an utter vacancy when they are present (Come on down, Rob Anders)?
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therainisgone
MT
338 Fans
05:03 PM on 03/01/2012
who wrote this garbage article --who approved it for inclusion here ?
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Awtkeral
0 Fans
09:06 AM on 03/02/2012
an NDP'er here?
or a BLOC?
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therainisgone
MT
338 Fans
10:12 AM on 03/02/2012
a realist
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
samseed
We're here for a good time, not a long time
249 Fans
04:42 PM on 03/01/2012
They get too many days off already.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
708 Fans
06:50 PM on 03/01/2012
How many days do they spend working in their riding offices?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
valar84
133 Fans
04:35 PM on 03/01/2012
So NDP leadership contenders are first, no surprise, they have to campaign for the leadership and they are barred from occupying important parliamentary positions because of the NDP rules. The only other NDP MP on this list is mine... she just gave birth, are you really going to blame her?

However Conservative ministers have no excuse. At the limit that international trade guy maybe is often on trips, but the Agriculture minister? No excuse. Ministers are responsible for their ministries and have to be in Parliament to take questions and be held accountable.
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Allicsirp
0 Fans
06:32 PM on 03/01/2012
The NDP grandstander with the kid should take a longer maternity leave and come back when she can focus on her work. She apparently is not worth 160,000/year with 60 absences.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
708 Fans
06:42 PM on 03/01/2012
Some of those NDP leadership candidates also have constituencies far from Ottawa. They have a triple burden of Commons business, riding office business and the leadership race.
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njdanie
old retired nerd
131 Fans
 
04:17 PM on 03/01/2012
It's a majority government. Isn't Parliament a little bit irrelevant until the next election?
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fencerman
100 Fans
04:11 PM on 03/01/2012
Does this writer have any clue what MPs actually spend most of their time doing?

MPs running for leadership aren't allowed to hold any critic portfolios, which means they'd have nothing to do even if they WERE sitting around in parliament. The fact that the leadership race accounts for pretty nearly all of the people on this list should tell you that this reporter really failed to put in the time to do his homework.

This is basically demanding that MPs waste their time sitting around not doing anything just because then their butts will be in particular chairs. For some reason the writer of this article believes that would count as "working", whereas criss-crossing the country going to townhalls, meetings and party leadership debates counts as "time off".
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Filthy
173 Fans
05:59 PM on 03/01/2012
Well in fairness running for leadership is not what NDP MPs are being paid to do. They are being paid to scrutinize the activity of the government. They are the designated opposition. Should NDP MPs be forgiven for being absent, certainly, if they are doing the job they're being paid to do, but not if they're occupied with a leadership race. Such an activity is quite time consuming. And the NDP constitution doesn't require a leadership contender to hold a seat, so they all had the option of resigning prior to this endeavour. Yeah, that's a really crappy excuse.
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fencerman
100 Fans
08:24 PM on 03/01/2012
Um, what? Did you miss the part where they have to step down from their critic portfolios when they run for leader? That would specifically prevent them from "scrutinizing the activity of the governmet" as you suggest they should spend their time doing. That job passes to their replacement on whatever file they had before.

...and you're being sarcastic, suggesting they step down from their seat prior to running for party leader, right? You just have to be.
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SuesW
40 Fans
01:04 AM on 03/05/2012
well that was an interesting back & forth. Thank you fencerman. All very well said.
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BCPATRIOT
British Columbia
416 Fans
03:51 PM on 03/01/2012
They should all lose their pay checks and be fined.

They are nothing but a bunch of free loaders on the tax payers $$$.

What a disgrace our government has be come.

Wake up Canada !
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SuesW
40 Fans
01:05 AM on 03/05/2012
unless they have something critical to do in ottawa, i'd rather them be in their riding, doing some actual work, not bantering or putting on a show for the media
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LetsKeepitSimple
84 Fans
03:36 PM on 03/01/2012
Romeo Saganash - NDP - 94 absences

Likely only 94 days, anyway another good NDP MP, busy working in his riding, for the benefit of his tribe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_Saganash
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Transitteer
and another thing . . .
110 Fans
 
03:33 PM on 03/01/2012
Obviously, voting in an NDP MP means you get NO representation at all. Next best would be Conservative, but they only represent themselves anyway don't they?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
708 Fans
07:06 PM on 03/01/2012
Hahahaha! You've got such a wonderful sense of satire!
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Wild Thing
Say What?!
198 Fans
03:25 PM on 03/01/2012
This story is very misleading. The reporting period is limited to a time frame that encompasses the NDP leadership race, and the leadership candidates are working hard on that. Relax.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Filthy
173 Fans
06:03 PM on 03/01/2012
Why would that be any consolation? They should be doing their job, not engaged in party politics. One does not require a seat in the House to run for leadership, and more importantly one should not expect to collect a pay cheque while doing so. If you are the loyal opposition, your job duties are clear. If you cannot perform them you should at the very least return the pay cheque you are collecting.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
708 Fans
06:44 PM on 03/01/2012
"Why would that be any consolation? They should be doing their job, not engaged in party politics."

Did you actually read what you wrote?
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Ninahuffpost
0 Fans
03:15 PM on 03/01/2012
I think who is present all the time is just as interesting. Only 7 Liberals manged to be present everyday. Lots of Conservatives and NDP never miss a session. Looking at previous session the pattern of Liberals not showing up is repeated. What excuse do all the backbenchers of the liberal party have?
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LetsKeepitSimple
84 Fans
03:39 PM on 03/01/2012
Really the NDP and Libs dont have a leader, at least a permenent one(I know, Rae will likely be the leader once the rules are changed) so all they can do is follow the previous leader. Iggy was never there, and so many of the others are new and dont know you are supposed to show up. Rae's not there much, and neither are the potential new ndp leaders

Give them credit for their solid socilist work ethics...
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HossHumard
29 Fans
04:21 PM on 03/01/2012
No it's not (interesting). The article is about the top ten absentees. If you can't swallow the fact that there's a ton of Tories on it, too bad....don't try and turn it into a Liberal issue.....
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