ATHABASCA - Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs has been recognized by her colleagues in Ottawa as the best representative of her constituents, for the second time in just three years.
Maclean’s magazine announced the winners of its 12th annual Parliamentarians of the Year Awards Jan. 12, which are voted on by Members of Parliament currently sitting in the House of Commons. Stubbs was one of three Conservatives, two Liberals, two Greens and one New Democrat to receive the honours this year.
Stubbs, who won the same award in 2017, said during a short acceptance speech posted to the Maclean’s Twitter account last week that her first priority is her constituents, who voted her in with 83.9 per cent of the vote in the 2019 Federal Election.
“What ultimately matters most to me is what the people of Lakeland think and whether I’m earning my keep from them every single day and night and holiday and frankly during most of my own private time, I am relentlessly driven by the people who sent me here,” she said.
Stubbs’ victory in 2019 was also the strongest mandate a woman has received from voters in Canadian election history, she pointed out in a Jan. 13 media release. She has also taken on the role of Shadow Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness since being re-elected.
“With that comes an equally immense responsibility, so I want to deliver on their expectations,” Stubbs said. “And it’s my duty — because people, families, businesses, and communities in Lakeland have given so much to Canada for generations, and they’re struggling in real time. They are rightfully frustrated, angry, and worried about their futures, through no fault of their own.”
She added she will continue to work hard to represent the best interests of the people in her constituency.
“If colleagues have decided that what I do and how I do it means I’m the MP that best represents my constituents, the truth is nothing matters more to me. I will keep at it, and continue working hard for Lakeland.
“The people of Lakeland are resilient, tenacious, and no-nonsense. They want action - especially from me. They inspire me. I’m so proud to represent them, and I’m so proud of where I come from. I’m fortunate to work with a team who understands the most important responsibility for all of us is to represent and assist the people of Lakeland.
Maclean’s is news magazine with a 115-year history of covering politics and current affairs in Canada and has been handing out Parliamentarians of the Year Awards in categories such as the hardest working, most collegial and most knowledgeable MP since 2006.
Joining Stubbs this year is Calgary Conservative MP Michelle Rempel-Garner, who received the award for hardest working MP, while Alberta-born deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland received the highest honour of Parliamentarian of the Year.
