Moments after being sworn in as the 14th Progressive Conservative member in P.E.I.’s legislature, Zack Bell showed his parents, Cindy and John, a bible he had brought along.
The bible, originally from the Murray Harbour Baptist church, bore a note written in blue pen on its inside cover.
“When you’re on top of the world, read this book. When you’re in the depths of despair, read this book,” read the note.
Bell said the bible was given to him by his mother on Christmas day in 2004.
“It's just something that has always kind of stuck with me," Bell told The Guardian.
Bell added he was asked by the clerk of the legislative assembly whether he was currently on top of the world or in the depths of despair.
“Probably somewhere closer to the top of the world today,” he said.
Bell took his seat, to the immediate right of the doors of the legislative assembly chambers, on Wednesday afternoon. His place in the assembly gives the PCs a paper-thin majority of the 27 seats, although one of these seats is currently occupied by Speaker Colin LaVie, whose role is largely neutral. LaVie is only permitted to cast a vote in the event of a tie.
PC MLA Zack Bell taking his seat "inside the rail" @peileg this aft, as most recent addition to the P.E.I. legislature. Most MLAs, both oppo and government, giving him some pretty warm greetings. #peipoli pic.twitter.com/M8XYGt4w8n
— Stuart Neatby (@stu_neatby) November 18, 2020
In an interview with reporters after the brief swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday morning, Bell said he has already attended a caucus meeting and has had a sit-down discussion with Premier Dennis King. He said the premier told him that his first days in the legislature will involve being able to “absorb as much as possible in a very short period of time.”
An issue likely to come up is mental health and addictions services. Bell said this issue was often talked about by residents of Charlottetown-Winsloe in the run-up to the Nov. 2 byelection.
He said this was clear in the concerns raised in a mental health rally of about 75 residents outside the Coles Building on Tuesday night. Many described barriers to care they experienced within P.E.I.’s healthcare system.
“It was tough to listen to the rally last night," Bell said. "This is something that, I do think, has to remain a priority. I do think that, last night, listening to the debate, that many of the members of the legislature do agree that mental health and addictions has to be a priority for this government."
He added he was encouraged that stigmas around mental health and addictions appear to be “kind of going away.”
Stu Neatby is The Guardian's political reporter.
