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Photo by Darren Brown / Ottawa Citizen

Q. Why did you get into politics in the first place?

A. A very good friend of mine asked me halfway through the nomination when I was running the first time, “why are you doing this?” Very quickly I said, “well, it’s to make a difference.” That’s why I got involved in teaching, why I got involved in environmental issues, international development issues when I was younger. I’ve said to my wife and others, the day you don’t see me excited about what I can do to make a difference, tap me on the shoulder and say maybe it’s time to do something else.

Photo by Darren Brown / Ottawa Citizen

Q. After eight years as an MP, do you feel like you’ve made a difference, or do you still need more time?

A. Yes, there’s a lot more I can do. Either the work I’ve done locally on the Ottawa River — that still needs to be finished off — to protecting Gatineau Park — still not done, but we’re almost there — to working on international issues where I know that, as a country, we can do so much more to help. There’s an awful lot of spirit left in me and the fire is burning still on those issues, but it’s important to every once in a while take stock and say, “why am I doing this?” Because it can be sometimes in politics just a matter of continuing to go through the process of politics and I think it’s really important to do an inventory of what we’ve done, what we’ve accomplished and charting the course for the next year.

Photo by Darren Brown / Ottawa Citizen

Q. You’re going around today to talk with local businesses. How often do you get to speak with constituents, given your roles on the Hill?