Politicians share special memories of Centre Block

OTTAWA— Centre Block has heard its last political debates as MPs and senators decamp to new chambers and the iconic building closes for renovations that will span at least a decade.

Here are some memories from the politicians who work there.

“I’m going to miss the strange feeling when you are here late in the evening working, I feel like I’m in a Harry Potter novel, Hogwarts. I’ll miss the library, the parliamentary restaurant. But at the same time, new House of Commons is bright, full of space, so that will be a nice change. What makes this place special is, first and foremost, the people and we’re all going to move together.” NDP MP Hélène Laverdière (Laurier—Sainte-Marie)

“I think my favourite memory and one you would never expect is when the House voted to continue to prohibit capital punishment. I was in the gallery because I was working for the federal minister of the environment at the time and I saw (Progressive Conservative MP) Barbara McDougall run across the floor and be met by Nelson Riis of the NDP running in the other direction to hug her. What I love are the moments in the House when a non-partisan effort prevails and you see all members of Parliament shedding their party colours to do something good for the country.” Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands)

“I know I’m not the only one who will miss this building. Whether it was playing hide-and-seek in the stairways with my brothers as a kid, eating lunch with my dad in the parliamentary restaurant or first taking my seat in the House of Commons 10 years ago, Centre Block has a unique place in my heart … Of course, I can’t be here in this Hall of Honour and not remember how these stones and carvings and arches watched over my father as he lay in state for two days 18 years ago.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

“Most of all, I will miss the peace and tranquility of the Library of Parliament. The breathtaking beauty of the space has become a truly therapeutic respite for so many of us filled with the history of courage and values and vision. During my earliest days in Parliament during a difficult time, I quickly discovered the service door by the river and all the back passages of this building. I’ll miss the special spaces, but memories are really about the people. We will take those with us.” Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations (Toronto— St. Paul’s)

“I remember the first time I entered the House of Commons as an elected official and the sense of wonder and gravity and responsibility. … Certainly the chamber has this sense of presence imbued in it . … In terms of our democracy, it’s got a presence that you feel. I would just hope that no matter how it’s renovated, that the sense of presence and wonder and importance of what goes on in there is retained.” Conservative MP Michelle Rempel (Calgary Nose Hill)

“It’s such an iconic building. When you’re sitting as a member of Parliament, it’s really overwhelming at times, to sit and look around and think of the amazing things that have happened in the place, but also things that haven’t been so great — that we’ve had to apologize for, dark parts of our history. So I often think of those two weights of things in that space.” NDP MP Tracey Ramsey (Essex)