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Definitely Not the Opera·DNTO

Newbie MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette tries to talk his way past parliamentary security

Robert-Falcon Ouellette, representing Winnipeg Centre, is one of 200 new members of Parliament. But when he arrived on Parliament Hill, he had to talk his way into the hallowed Green Chamber.
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Robert-Falcon Ouellette savours his first time in the Green Chamber as an MP. (Robert-Falcon Ouellette/Twitter)
Definitely Not the Opera1:48Robert-Falcon Ouellette Goes to Ottawa

Newly-elected Winnipeg Centre MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette got his first taste of parliamentary life last week, when he was in Ottawa for orientation sessions.

"At the beginning, I was a little nervous about it," he remembered. But by the end of the day Ouellette was feeling more comfortable. He decided to visit the Parliament buildings, despite a heavy rain. "I'm drenched by the time I get up the steps," he recalled.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette savours his first moments in the Green Chamber as an MP. (Twitter @DrRobbieO)

Inside, a security guard stopped him and this conversation followed:

Security: Can I help you sir?
Ouellette (pulling out his ID): I'm here and I'd just like to walk around.
Security: You can't.
Ouellette: I'm a member of Parliament.
Security: Oh, of course, of course you're quite welcome to. 
Ouellette: What I'd really like to do I'd like to visit the chambers.
Security: They're closed.
Ouellette: I just came all this way, I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I'd just love to feel the place and just get the energy from that place. 
Security: I'll go introduce you to the sergeant. 

Ouellette was eventually escorted into the Green Chamber by two young security guards and tweeted a few photos.

For him it was a powerful moment, especially because he traces his roots back to politician, Métis leader, and a founder of Manitoba, Louis Riel. "To think that Louis Riel was elected to the House of Commons but he never actually sat in the House and... I might have this opportunity myself to be there was very exciting."

Hear more from Robert-Falcon Ouellette and his constituents on this week's DNTO, Saturday Nov. 7 at 3:00pm on CBC Radio One. 

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