Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, January 15, 2026.
President Olaf chaired the meeting. He welcomed Rotarians, guest speaker MP Carol Anstey and her Constituency Assistant Selma Pike.
Olaf spoke of the email he had received from Rotary International regarding a virtual meeting of focus groups on January 22nd concerning the Rotary Action Plan. Rotarians will be sent more details by email about how to participate in a focus group
Guest Program
After lunch was eaten, Adam introduced MP Carol Anstey. Carol gave a most interesting talk about her experiences on becoming an MP last year.
She is the first women member of the Conservative Party in the province, and she represents the Long Range Mountains Constituency, Newfoundland and Labrador.
She talked of some of her experiences such as being present when King Charles III opened parliament in fall 2025, and she noted the document she was handed when attending this ceremony, had a picture of Gros Morne on its cover.
She has spoken at Question Time in the House of Commons, and she talked about this experience and preparation needed for this. She has spoken several times at Question Time including in the leader’s round which is quite an honour.
One of the rewards she is finding as an MP is the bringing local people to serve on committees whose outcomes will help individual people. She stated that her riding is mostly rural and often problems arising are not often understood by those in more urban settings, but she aims always to do the best she can.
She went on to talk about the different committees on which she serves. She referred to the private Member’s Bill C-234 which she was involved with that had its first reading on September 22, 2025. This act will institute a Living Donor Recognition Medal to recognize and honour the altruistic and life-saving act of living organ donation.
Another bill, Bill C-225, Carol has been involved with is Bailey’s Law which has unanimously passed its second reading. This bill named after Bailey McCourt will strengthen the legal response to Intimate Partner Violence.
Carol is involved in the Standing Committee for the Environment and Sustainability as well as several other committees. As Carol said committees involve a lot of work for all parties sit together and discuss issues which can be brought to the Minister at Question Time.
She herself focuses on the Newfoundland and Labrador prospective especially when oil and gas is concerned and of course with fishery issues that affect rural Newfoundland and Labrador. She continued to speak of the work she is doing on different issues and in different committees. Her focus is the concerns of her province and how in meaningful ways she can address these issues. Carol plans to stay rooted in the communities she is serving to serve them as best she is able. Her informative and interesting talk showed how hard she is working to represent the Long Range Mountains Constituency in Ottawa.
Carol answered several questions before being thanked by Olaf for speaking to Rotary and the meeting was adjourned.