Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

MPs spread goodwill in summer

Head home to their ridings to raise money for charity

By: Mia Rabson / Hill Talk

Posted: 07/20/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

OTTAWA -- Politicians get a lot of flack from the public. Quite often they're rated somewhere near the bottom of the list of professionals whom the public respects, along with lawyers and journalists, I might add.But despite the bad seeds that grab headlines, most politicians are trying to do right by Canadians and many are spending their summers touring their ridings and doing what they can to support their local cities and towns. They also do what they can to give back.

Take Manitoba Conservative MP Merv Tweed for example, who last week presented a cheque to the Heart and Stroke Foundation for $10,000. The money was the proceeds from a charity golf tournament Tweed organized in June at the Oak Island Golf Resort in Oak Lake.

Half a dozen MPs teed off for the cause, including three from outside the province.

Tweed said there is another $4,000 set aside to help buy defibrillators for small towns in his riding.

The golf tournament will become an annual event with the proceeds going to a different charity each year, said Tweed, who has represented Brandon-Souris since 2004.

"I've been pretty lucky and this is a chance to give back," Tweed said.

Liberal Senator Rod Zimmer also got in on the charity act this past week, hosting a meet-and-greet on Parliament Hill for Wes Bauer, the founder of Chase the Cure. Bauer, 20, is biking across the country to raise money for the Never Alone Foundation, in honour of his father who survived throat cancer. His father happens to be none other than Lyle Bauer, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Zimmer, who has also battled throat cancer, wrote a cheque for $1,000 and teased Wes Bauer he could have it on Aug. 15 if he made his target of arriving in St. John's, N.L., by then.

I'm sure there are many more examples of our political leaders doing good deeds. These are just two that caught my attention and a pretty good reminder that the people we elect actually do good things.

"ö "ö "ö

Canada seems to have this ubiquitous problem of trying to claim famous people who once lived here as our own.

I've always thought it crazy that Winnipeg tries to pretend actress Anna Paquin is a Manitoban when she left the city when she was six years old.

Ottawa took the idea to new heights last week when it tried to proclaim a day in honour of former Playboy playmate and actress Shannon Tweed, and then created an international news story when they took it away.

Tweed -- I admit I had to Google her -- was in the capital city with her partner, Gene Simmons, who in turn was in Ottawa to perform with Kiss at Ottawa's Bluesfest.

The local media had been talking about Tweed's visit for weeks.

Tweed lived in Ottawa for four years in her late teens. But the 52-year-old grew up in Newfoundland, has spent most of her adult life in the United States, and hasn't actually lived in Ottawa since it was considered hip to wear polyester pants.

Other than winning the Miss Ottawa Valley pageant in 1977, she also hasn't done anything for the city.

She seemed to just want to see some old friends and be there for the concert. It was us media types and eager-beaver city politicians who couldn't just let her be.

Once city council tried to proclaim Shannon Tweed Day, the exercise fell apart because some councillors thought it an inappropriate accolade for someone who was once paid to pose naked. It also is apparently an honour that is rightly reserved for people who have lived here for a long time and made some sort of significant contribution to the city.

Tweed didn't leave empty-handed, however. She and Simmons were treated to a tour of Parliament Hill by MP Pierre Poilievre and she also got a City of Ottawa gift basket.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 20, 2009 A6

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

WFP Hockey

Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
Editor's Bulletin

Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
Winnipeg Jets

All things NHL on our Jets landing page
Twitter

Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
News Cafe

Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
Facebook Fanpage

Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events