Grewal has fifth worst absenteeism in last parliament

Many bloggers have already noticed the new website How'd They Vote?, which allows you to quickly link up to the voting and speeches of MPs in Parliament. There is a story on the site and its creator in today's Globe and Mail (see here), and it includes some details about absenteeism.

Ten MPs, led by a trio of members with cancer, have missed more than 50 votes during the 38th Parliament, which began last October.

Independent MP Carolyn Parrish, booted from the Liberal caucus last fall after stomping on a likeness of U.S. President George W. Bush during a TV stunt, missed 79 votes. That places her fourth among the 308 MPs for the most absences. "You don't get notices of votes," she said of the often-isolated life of an independent. She rarely missed such proceedings as a Liberal, she said. "The parties send notices of votes to each of their members. If you've got a particular vote of interest you have to really pay attention and your staff has to actually seek it out." Otherwise, she was in Parliament for the rest of the session except for two weeks of travel on official business, she said.

Tory MP Gurmant Grewal ranked fifth with 62 absences. He missed much of the spring sitting on stress leave after secretly recording talks on his potential defection to the Liberals.