Elizabeth May, Green Party of Canada Leader and MP For Saanich-Gulf Islands, was named Canada’s Hardest Working MP of 2013 at last night’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards, an annual event hosted by Maclean’s and L’Actualité.
Members of Parliament are nominated and voted on by their colleagues for 6 different awards, including “Best Orator” and “Most Knowledgeable”, in a poll run by Ipsos-Reid. The MP who receives the highest number of total points across all categories is named Parliamentarian of the Year, a distinction May won last year.
Bruce Hyer, independent MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North, accepted the award on the Green Party Leader’s behalf at a ceremony held last night at the Government Convention Centre. May is currently in Warsaw, Poland, attending the COP 19 UN Climate Conference.
“I really think I only do the work all MPs should do — work for constituents, try to improve legislation, and do so in the interests of my constituents,” said May in a statement from Warsaw. “I am very honoured by this recognition coming from colleagues from all parties within the House of Commons.”
This year’s runner-up for Hardest Working MP award was the Hon. Irwin Cotler, MP for Mount Royal.