Cullen named most knowledgeable parliamentarian

It seems Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP knows a lot of stuff, especially about parliament.

So much so that was named the most knowledgeable parliamentarian of 2014 at an event hosted by Maclean’s magazine in Ottawa this week.

“Honoured and unexpected” is how MP Nathan Cullen described the accolade.

“I’m at a bit of a loss for words,” Cullen said. “There are such a lot of amazing MPs in the House; to be singled out in this way by my colleagues is truly an honour.”

The Maclean’s Parliamentarians of the Year are selected by MPs themselves. Every MP may cast ballots for any of their colleagues and MPs vote within their parties and across the aisle.

MPs are recognized in seven areas of achievement: hardest working MP, best constituency representative, most collegial, most knowledgeable, rising star, best orator, and parliamentarian of the year. 2014 marks the eighth year the Maclean’s has hosted the annual parliamentarian awards.

Cullen currently serves as the Opposition Finance critic. His previous portfolios include Opposition House Leader, and Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Privacy, Access to Information and Ethics. Cullen has also served as NDP national critic for Natural Resources and Energy, and Environment, National Parks and Youth.

In 2012, Cullen placed third in the NDP leadership race to succeed the late Jack Layton. Cullen was elected in 2004 and was named Favorite Up-and-Coming Rookie Politician that year by fellow MPs. In 2005, Cullen was one of only 20 Canadian recipients invited to visit the U.S. as part of that country’s International Visitor Leadership Program.