The halls of Parliament have been decked. Lights are dancing across the walls of Centre Block. And as the holiday spirit has arrived in Ottawa, members of Parliament put aside politics to read one of the season’s favourite stories.
Here is the complete list of the new and familiar faces who participated in this festive feature, in order of appearance. (Hint: Stay tuned after the poem for the blooper reel!)
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair – Outremont
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
(With appearances by NDP MPs Gord Johns—Courtney-Alberni, and Karine Trudel—Jonquiere)
Conservative Interim Leader Rona Ambrose – Sturgeon River—Parkland
The children were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
Ginette Petitpas Taylor—Moncton-Riverivew-Dieppe (Liberal)
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
Wayne Easter—Malpeque (Liberal)
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
Ruth Ellen Brosseau—Berthier-Maskinongé (New Democrat)
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
Seamus O’Regan—St. John’s South—Mount Pearl (Liberal)
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
(Special guest appearance by Minister of National Defence Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan — Vancouver South)
Dianne Watts—South Surrey-White Rock (Conservative)
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—
Larry Miller—Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound (Conservative)
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
Jenny Kwan—Vancouver East (New Democrat)
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
Charlie Angus—Timmins-James Bay (New Democrat)
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
Celina Caesar-Chavannes—Whitby (Liberal)
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
Andrew Scheer—Regina-Qu’Appelle (Conservative)
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
Lisa Raitt—Milton (Conservative)
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May – Saanich—Gulf Islands
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – Papineau (Liberal)
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
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