The first year of Todd Lewis' political career as a Senator was anything but normal.
Prior to his appointment to the Senate in February, Lewis was the Vice-President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and before that was the President of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS). He also farms near Gray, located southeast of Regina.
Lewis didn't get to sit in the upper chamber until June due to Parliament being prorogued and the spring federal election.
"Just prior to my swearing in, the speech from the throne was read and the King was there. That was a very interesting opening to a Senate for my career." he said.
Lewis admitted there was a learning curve for how everything works in the Senate between the brief three-week session in June and the fall session. The Senate sits three days a week – Tuesday through Thursday – and committee meetings in the morning and evening.
"So there's lots, we're busy when we're down there in Ottawa. But yes…the committee work's very interesting and also what goes on in the Senate is interesting as well."
He credits a handful of Senators with taking him under their wing – Mary Robinson from Prince Edward Island, whom Lewis is familiar with during his time at the CFA, Robert Black from Ontario, and Scott Tannas from Alberta.
"There's a great transition team and all the senators in the chamber are more than willing to lend a hand and certainly are very welcoming and open for any questions that a person has."
Lewis is on two Senate committees – transportation and communications as well as the energy and environment committee.
The transportation committee is currently studying federally-regulated labour issues and the use of back-to-work legislation over the last 50 years, he said, while the energy and environment committee is studying offshore oil and gas in Newfoundland.
"It's been great to become involved in them." Lewis said.
The Senate resumes business at the beginning of February.
