2017 should prove to be another interesting year in Parliament. That's according to Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman M.P. James Bezan, who says the first thing that will be of interest to everyone is how Canada and Donald Trump are going to get along once the new American president has taken office. Bezan notes the United States is the most important international relationship we have, adding they're our neighbours, our biggest allies and our biggest trading partners. He says we'll have to wait and see whether or not Prime Minister Trudeau can set aside his own liberal philosophy and be pragmatic enough to engage with Donald Trump on a state-to-state level which will be in our nation's best interest. Bezan notes from a military perspective Canada may have to do more in the coming years, adding as the defence critic he's going to be paying close attention to the defence policy review and the new white paper the government will be issuing some time during the first few months of 2017.

He says the other question which has everyone interested is if the Liberals will come forward with a gerrymandered electoral reform package which suits them rather than what's in the best interest of all Canadians. Bezan notes the Prime Minister's preference is to go with a ranked balloting system instead of letting the issue be put to a referendum. He adds since there isn't a consensus within the House of Commons, the Liberals may try to ram through a system which is in their own best interest or they may just back down. Bezan says the current electoral system seems to have served Canada very well for the last one hundred and fifty years.