side from being the first gathering of Conservatives in 2009, this particular meeting is notable in that it is the first one for my former colleague and now senator Mike Duffy as well as the other 17 newbie senators including Pamela Wallin and Nancy Greene. ... As for the national caucus meeting itself, MPs and Senators spent the first half hour or so milling about the Commonwealth Room in the Centre Block enjoying a pasty and a coffee and exchanging holiday pleasantries....

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