Ottawa Sun: MP eager to head to Hill

Wednesday, November 29, 2000

Scott Reid's morning began with a congratulatory call from Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day and ended with a hometown celebration over his election win in Lanark-Carleton.

Reid, who has worked as an adviser to Day, didn't keep him on the phone for very long yesterday.

"The poor guy needs his rest," said Reid, who at 36 has written two books and is poised to take over his family's Giant Tiger retail chain.

The Ottawa region snagged the only two Alliance seats in the province Monday, with Cheryl Gallant pulling out a surprise win in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke over Liberal incumbent Hec Clouthier.

Reid credited "well-organized" campaign teams in both ridings for their edge. The party was also able to capitalize on a long tradition of small 'c' conservative voters in the area, he said.

Reid has already started preparing for his trek to Parliament Hill, lining up staff members, a temporary office and speaking with defeated Liberal incumbent Ian Murray about transferring files.

One of the first cases he plans to tackle involves Prof. Kulun Zhang, an Ottawa resident who was imprisoned in China a year ago for practicing Falun Gong, a mental and physical discipline similar to Tai Chi which has been the subject of a government crackdown.

And he's not daunted at being one-half of the Ontario Alliance contingent of two.

"We'll be the caucus," he said.

http://www.canoe.ca/OttawaNews/OS.OS-11-29-0019.html