I have been in Ottawa for a few weeks now, and a lot has happened. I have been setting up my office as a Member of Parliament, both on the Hill and in the constituency. I have hired staff for both locations and am gearing up to be officially sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Kelowna this coming Thursday, May 22nd.
Before I left for Ottawa, I met with the Mayor, the City Manager, and City staff to discuss the city's priorities moving forward regarding federal support. Since then, we have maintained regular communication, and I have a clear understanding of those priorities. I will resume advocacy on the city's behalf as soon as Parliament begins sitting on the 26th.
We are in the final stages of establishing the constituency office in Kelowna and will announce its location soon. In the meantime, anyone needing support with federal government issues can reach me at stephen.fuhr@parl.gc.ca.
Notably, this session will commence with a historic event: His Majesty King Charles III will deliver the Speech from the Throne in Ottawa on May 27th. This marks the first time in nearly 50 years that the reigning monarch has personally opened Parliament in Canada, with the last occasion being in 1977 when Queen Elizabeth II performed this duty. I will report back on that experience in an upcoming MP Community Update.
As many people have seen or heard by now, I was asked by Prime Minister Carney to serve as Secretary of State for Military Procurement, which I graciously accepted. I was sworn into the King's Privy Council on Tuesday, May 13. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.
The Secretary of State is a position that has not been utilized for some time. Although not part of the Cabinet, it is associated with the Ministry and the broader Government of Canada. Secretaries of State attend Cabinet at the pleasure of the Prime Minister.
The title was used extensively during Prime Minister Jean Chr茅tien's tenure and was briefly revived by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2007 before falling out of regular use. Prime Minister Carney has now reintroduced the position as part of his broader approach to governance, and I was honored to be appointed in this capacity.
I attended the first Cabinet meeting and am expected to participate in the upcoming Cabinet retreat at Meech Lake on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20th and 21st.
If you are in Ottawa, you are always welcome to stop by our Hill office at 268 Wellington Street in the Wellington Building. Whether you are in Ottawa for business, with a school group, or simply visiting the capital, feel free to drop in, say hello, or meet with me in any capacity that suits you. I am always happy to connect with constituents from Kelowna.
If there is anything you would like to bring to my attention, please feel free to reach out.
I look forward to seeing many of you soon, whether in Kelowna or here in Ottawa.
Thank you once more for this incredible opportunity to serve. It is an honor to represent our community in Ottawa.
Stephen Fuhr PC CD
MP (Elect) Kelowna
