Georgina · East Gwillimbury · King  .
 
Bradford West Gwillimbury · Innisfil  .

I was across the Atlantic Ocean, in Slovenia, promoting and advancing the Canadian government's efforts to achieve a Free Trade Agreement with the 27-country European Union.

The life of a Member of Parliament involves being away from your family a fair bit. When in Ottawa, I try to talk on the phone at least once daily; but sometimes even that modest objective is a victim of wall-to-wall meetings, briefings and debates.

But even when I am back in the riding, the need to attend community events fills up weekends. The delights are the family friendly events — like the community corn roast, where you can chat with constituents while riding with the kids on a horse-drawn hay wagon. But not every community event is as exciting to baby John and nine-year-old Caroline, as it might be to my wife Cheryl and I.

In my current Cabinet role, things are more challenging. As Minister of International Trade, I am expected to travel the world creating trade opportunities, promoting Canadian goods and services, and attracting foreign investment to create more jobs in this country.

It's a great time to have that job. Promoting Canada is easy today. We have a great economic success story. Canada has the lowest debt and deficit of any major developed (G-7) economy. We have been posting the strongest economic growth of the major developed economies.

We have low taxes, and the most skilled workforce in the world. And of course, we have a quality of life second to none.

So it is critical that we take advantage of our strengths to promote Canada now — as the global economy begins to climb out of its downturn. But, as an MP in a minority Parliament, it is impossible to travel when the House of Commons is sitting.

I can't miss key votes — which could come at almost any time — and the old-fashioned gentlemen's agreements of 'pairing' (an opposition MP travels with you, or agrees not to vote while you are away, the country's interests can be advanced) are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

As a result, I must do my ministerial job when the House of Commons is not sitting. Thus, even less time is spent with the family. Other highlights I have missed while on the road this year have been baby John's first solid steps, and Cheryl's birthday.

But there is another side as well. Cheryl will tell you the challenges of raising two children virtually as a single mother. And when the baby is sick (fortunately rarely, so far), or not sleeping through the night (he never does), it is Mom who pays the bleary-eyed and exhausting price. With John showing what his father calls a healthy curiosity and sense of discovery, Cheryl is constantly chasing him to avert disaster of one type or another, as he masters new skills (escape, cupboard emptying and climbing are developing talents). I can tell on the phone how things are going. When she starts off with 'Today, your son', I know it's trouble. I will share the blame with him in absentia!

Caroline is a great help — but a nine-year-old also needs a chance to be a kid too.

All is not a tale of woe. Thanks to my job, I have been able to bring the family along (at our own cost, of course) on a few business trips. I may spend the time in meetings, as they do the usual stuff, but it allows for some time together. Young John may not remember the rhinos and giraffes on safari in Kenya when he's older, or the delights of the Moscow Circus, but the memories will be strong for the rest of us.

The first year with John has been a delight, and he appeared fine with my regular absence. Waving goodbye was always accompanied by a smile. But last week, for the first-time, he cried as I left. It's a great job I have, as your MP. It is an honour to serve. But it does come at a very real price.

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