Just over a month after being elected as the new Member of Parliament for the Cypress Hills-Grasslands riding, Jeremy Patzer was officially sworn in at Parliament in Ottawa last week.  

Family and friends surrounded Patzer as he was sworn into the 43rd Parliament.  

"There was a lot of excitement around. There's a lot of build-up to that moment," he said. "The great people of Cypress Hills-Grasslands giving me such a mandate with the election, but when you go through the actual swearing-in a process that is kind of the final step to come to a Member of Parliament. It was a great experience to be surrounded by my family. My wife and kids joined me, my staffer, that I have hired on the hill as well as a few other people. It was great to have them there, and it was just a really surreal, really great experience.  

Patzer takes over the Conservative seat from his predecessor, David Anderson, who was the Member of Parliament for Cypress Hills-Grasslands from December of 2000 to September of 2019.  

"It's definitely starting to set in now," he said. "It's definitely been great to spend some time working both in the riding office but also in Ottawa. We are starting to get a few things accomplished that we need to get done as far as getting prepared for when we have our first week of sitting."  

The first week of sitting for Patzer and the 43rd Parliament will be on December 5th, an experience that he is looking forward too.  

"It's going to be another one of those moments when you step into the chamber for the first time, and you go through your first question period. There are a few key events that are going to happen, such as voting for the Speaker of the House and the Throne speech,” Patzer noted. “Being able to sit through that for the first time is going to be good, but also going through the regular day to day rigours of being an MP on the hill. That's going to be another good experience to go through, and I am looking forward to doing that."  

Patzer said that it is comforting to have other new MPs, but also other senior MPs to help out.  

"A lot of them have been really good at reaching out and just saying 'Hey, if you guys need or have questions about anything,' or even while we are waiting to get our offices assigned and set up, they are allowing us to use their office space as well. There's a really good group of MPs out there. We are a strong and united group, and we are ready to work together to keep this government accountable."  

He said that when the first sitting kicks off, he will be taking it in, but also ready to voice concerns of the riding.  

"It's going to be taking it all in and learning the ropes as we go, but also, I'm looking to voice the concerns that have been brought to my attention throughout the riding," Patzer said. "There are different issues that are going to keep coming up. I've spent a lot of time touring around the riding and talking to people and just getting a good opportunity to get handle of those issues, so I am looking forward to now take those issues and take them forward, whether it be in meeting or in the house of commons and get those pieces out there in the public."  

Patzer added that though his journey of being an MP is just getting started, it has been a great journey so far.