After twenty-two years as the M.P. for the federal Looking back at a long career, and forward to retirement Garry Breitkreuz Yorkton-Melville MP constituency of Yorkton-
Melville, I will retire at the next election.
I thank my constituents and those who have worked on my campaigns over the years for the faith they have shown in me. I also thank my colleagues and staff for their tremendous support.
But my greatest thanks (and sympathy) go to my wife, Lydia. She’s been a political widow. I appreciate her faithfulness to me more than she’ll ever know.
It is very difficult to leave the House of Commons. I enjoy my job and will miss the people I’ve worked with on both sides of the House. I’ll always be grateful for the wonderful opportunities
they’ve given me.
Scratching below the surface has defi ned my political career -- that began in university. After dabbling in many faiths, I was challenged to scratch below the surface. After struggling, I chose to become a Christian and that has defined my life.
Some people know my nickname is “Mr. Gun.”
Shortly after I was elected,
constituents confronted me
regarding gun control. I was
challenged to scratch below
the surface on that issue
too. I’d never planned
on that. But by scratching
below the surface, I realized
that $2 billion would be
much better spent by putting
10,000 more policemen on
the street to improve public
safety. That has become
another defi ning part of my
career.
I worked a lot on the
abortion issue and took a
firm stand for life. Again,
I had to scratch below the
surface. To ask, “What is
it that in the womb of a
woman?” and search out
the truth.
Whatever I’ve worked
on, I’ve tried to take a principled
approach. Many
people have helped with
that and I’m grateful. Opposition
members played a
key role in challenging my
thinking.
I sat with the Prime
Minister in the House
from 1993-97. He was also
a person to really scratch
below the surface, and he
has become a phenomenal
Prime Minister. I hope that
all Canadians will realize
what our Prime Minister
and Government have done
and what is at risk next October
19.
I got into politics because
I wanted my children
and grandchildren to
live in a better Canada. In
many ways, it is better. Our
Conservative government
knows that families are the
solid building block of our
society. Our support for
families makes Canada the
envy of most nations. That
could all change at the next
election.
Members receive the
perk of free phone calls
home. My children were
teenagers when I was first
elected. Once I became an
MP, our nightly 10-minute
call brought us closer. Even
Lydia and I talked more because
of that perk. She has
suggested that when I retire
we put one phone on her
side of the bed and another
on mine.
Today, our four wonderful
children, their spouses
and our 12 grandchildren
help me look forward to October
20, and a new chapter
in my life.
