What I did on my summer vacation
When returning to school in September, the first thing the teachers always asked us to write was, "What I did on my summer vacation." I usually had something pretty boring to write; I played with my friends and went to the cottage.
Is it any different now that I am an adult? I am a university professor, so most people think I had the summer off. Not really. I am working on a book on religious freedom, so I spent most of my time researching and writing.
I am also in the "sandwich generation," providing some care for both children and parents. My kids are teenagers and had a lot of their own plans over the summer. But my husband and I were needed for a trip to the hospital for stitches (workplace injury) and drives to and from friends' houses, lessons and a summer school course.
I spent a week taking care of my mother at the cottage. It is her favourite place, but she can no longer travel there by herself. So a week of my vacation was taken up with care-giving.
Political break
Our politicians also had a break over the summer, although some had to make quick trips back to Ottawa for committee hearings. This seems to be developing into a trend. It used to be that MPs looked forward to summers back in their constituencies, attending barbecues and having a bit of family time.
But the urge to have a few issues to hammer the government over has proved too alluring for the Opposition to resist.
The Industry, Science and Technology Committee held three days of hearings in July to deal with the long form census and the closing of a refinery. The Public Safety Committee took two days in July to be briefed on CSIS in relation to the G8 and G20 meetings.
The media love these summer committee meetings as July and August are generally slow news months. Short of reporting on the weather and summer festivals, there is very little real news to report.
The leaders of Canada's political parties were also busy.
Stephen Harper packed an entire summer's schedule into a space of about 10 days in early July. He hosted the Queen for nine days. Then it was time for the first state visit in five years from Chinese president Hu. This was followed by the G8 and then the G20. The only time Mr. Harper made an appearance since then was at the Calgary Stampede. His office said he took some time for his family.
Media blitz
Michael Ignatieff received lots of media coverage for his summer bus tour of Canada. The tour was clearly to make up for last summer when the Liberal leader was criticized for taking time to finish his book. This summer he was practicing for an election campaign with three to four events per day for four weeks. But if his goal was to get his party up in the polls, it didn't work.
Jack Layton, leader of the NDP, toured northern Canada as well as the East and West Coasts. He also signed up for a French immersion program in Quebec. Because of his recently diagnosed prostate cancer, Layton planned to spend more time with his family, especially his one-year-old granddaughter. That would be time well spent.
Gilles Duceppe appeared to take the summer off. But then again, he has made it clear that he does not aspire to be prime minister.
Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, attended a few garden parties here and there, but seemed to focus her efforts on becoming known in the British Columbia riding where she will run come the next election.
So what did you do on your summer vacation? Something to get ahead in life, or something to reconnect with family, friends and God? I hope it was the latter.
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