I want Parliament to be a place where people can voice their concerns, a place where they can be heard

Parliament is now going to be a place where we get to be heard as well

People need to make their voices heard and take part in public participation processes, as this helps the government make decisions and introduce legislation that works for all.

as I became Speaker in 1986, I made a point of setting up a public information office to respond to requests and provide information about Parliament and how it functions.

Participation by the public in decision-making, which requires full information, transparency and accountability, is essential to the democratic order. Parliaments have a special responsibility to oversee the adoption of national budgets and to monitor the actual use of appropriations so as to ferret out corruption.

An effective Parliament is an important element of a vibrant democracy and good governance, all of which are desired principles of the Commonwealth as enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter. It is the principle of the CPA that stronger parliaments mean stronger democracies, and greater capacity to deliver the benefits that people expect: such as employment opportunities, empowerment of women, food security, health care, education, rural development, a brighter future for children and protection of the environment.

The constitution names legislation as the chief duty of a Member of Parliament, but this should be beefed up with specialized refresher training. I would also like to ensure that members can comfortably contribute to the debates in the House.

This Parliament exists - and always will - to serve the people and to provide national leadership which reflects their hopes, addresses their fears and raises their aspirations. It is a Parliament which the people demanded. It is also a Parliament of which the people make demands.

My goal is to work with my colleagues on the bench to help drive change to improve service to the public. These reforms include increasing efficiency and saving public resources, while making sure every person served by our court is treated with dignity and respect.

I will this time go to Parliament

My position is to listen to my constituents, learn from the best information available and ultimately make sound, rational decisions that are going to be beneficial to the people of the 8th Congressional District.

A Parliament's job is not just to legislate but to debate, to enquire and to understand.

Parliament’s actions should reflect its honorable title and promote confidence in the institution.

Our MPs, I am convinced, will do a thorough job to advance our democracy and ensure that the citizenry gets the best out of the democratic dispensation.