Idea alert

David Mitchell suggests Parliament should become a travelling road show once Centre Block is closed for renovations.

Think for a moment about the potential impact of convening a parliamentary session in Saskatchewan or New Brunswick or Manitoba or the Yukon. Wouldn’t each and every province or northern territory enjoy the opportunity to host this important national institution and showcase their regions and their issues. And imagine the possible impact on our politicians. What might be the effect of our Parliament meeting in Quebec? Or of Bloc Quebecois MPs being required to meet in Alberta? In my own experience, Canadians don’t know as much about each other as they sometimes believe they do. This would be a chance to familiarize our elected representatives with their country. It would be an exercise in nation-building.