Back from my meeting today. It was a long meeting but got some good information. Our party President was there giving a speech and glad handing everyone. One of the organizers of the meeting made sure to bring him over to our table to say hello to me, and then he joined us for lunch. Think of him as the equivalent of the new GOP Chairman Michael Steele (I couldn't quickly find the Democratic equivalency).
So as far as the "insignificant cog in the expansive Canadian Parliamentary system", the cog just moved a few notches.

Or at least his ego did! LOL
Now I get to drive for 9 hours to get to Prince George tomorrow, have another meeting on Monday and then Monday finally get home after about a week away.
Looking forward to finally getting home. Monday night can't come soon enough!!