An "historic" piece of writing?

Yesterday, I read one of the most interesting pieces of political reporting and analysis that I've come across in a long time. Ron Graham writes about how it came to be that Mr. Ignatieff came to be leader of the Liberal party of Canada. It's published on line here.

You'll need a cup of coffee and the best part of half an hour, but if this is the only political analysis you read between now and the next election, it will serve you well!

If Ignatieff fails to "seize the crown", this piece by Ron Graham may well be noted as one of the most influential pieces of Canadian Political writing since.... well:  since Trudeau wrote for Cite Libre!

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Victory for Boisson

We can thank the Lord for the victory in the courts for Rev. S. Boisson of Red Deer Alberta. He had been persecuted for writing a letter to a local paper expressing his beliefs about homosexuality. The Alberta HRC had gagged him from speaking and ordered him to pay a fine to a complainant. The ECP Center assisted in fighting this onerous ruling and have recorded a win for freedom of religion and expression for Christians in this country. Read about it here.

Canada's Debt

The Canadian Taxpayer's Federation has an interesting site here. Watch your federal government spend money!

Citizenship Guide

It's not often (I don't think ever) that I'm really eager to get my hands on a government publication promoting this or that. However, over the last week I read much about Canada's new citizenship guidebook. After reading this I'm wondering how to get my hands on one! It sounds like the Government has finally prepared a booklet about Canada that's not about "healthcare" and "sharing" but about our constitutional history and our record of sound (relatively) representative (relatively) responsible government and our place in the World. I'm sick and tired of the mantra that "healthcare" defines us as a nation. Thank's to Mr. Warren for his column!

I found an ecopy here.

Big Pharma and HPV

I am thankful that I live in a time and place when many of the diseases of the past have been conquered by good vaccination programs. However, the recent hysterical hype over H1N1 just turns me off. More people die of seasonal flus than of H1N1.

But this story is over the top. Manufacturers of vaccines to protect girls from HPV are pushing hard to have all school age girls vaccinated, without, it seems, to have run adequate clinical trials! Shame! Shame!

A Sea Change in American Life

A new poll has been published in the USA about abortion.  This shows that the determination of the Pro-life movement has effect. I think of the young folks on university campuses who press on with their presentations even though they are shouted down and pushed around.  May they continue to be protected by the Lord of Heaven and the law of the land.

With a Little Help from His Friends

The other night our Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined Yo Yo Ma on stage at the NAC in Ottawa in a Beatles cover "With a Little Help From My Friends". This video has gone viral and is being seen by hundreds of thousands on YouTube and the Globe and Mail flash version. The most complete including his introduction and the surprised laughter of the audience can only  be seen on the PMO's own YouTube Channel. Only several thousand have seen it there so I thought I'd share it here. I have to smile at all the layers of irony of the song. Who does he need to love? Dion? Who are his friends? Jack and Gilles? After all these minority governments, where is love at first sight? Who is he going to get high with? Rahim Jaffer? It's just all too funny.

** I was hoping to keep it secret, but my sister caught me sitting in the orchestra! You can see me (or maybe its that proverbial double we all have). I've got a look-a-like at 3:52- 3:55 at the bottom right. He appears again at 4:13-4:15 on the bottom left. I'd love to know if he's a long lost relative. Even I think he looks like me!!!

Toronto Star

Remarkably, even the Toronto Star is calling for the repeal of the infamous "Section 13." Let's see if our politicians will dare to make this an election issue. "Where do you stand on 'Section 13'?" should be a question asked at every all candidates meeting if there is an election this fall!

Freedom of Speech

This could be a great victory for freedom of speech in this country.

The New Economy

During the colonial period, the World's Empires, led by Britain and Spain, used their far flung empires as sources for raw materials. Places like India and China were merely producers of goods for further processing in the homelands. Think only of Gandhi's protest about cotton grown in India, shipped to England, where it was made into cloth, only to be shipped back to India.

This CBC News item strikes me as ironic. As does this one. Canada is no longer sending raw material to England but to other former colonies!

Freedom of Religion

Two decisions in the news today show how incrementally the courts, legislatures and HRCs in Canada are eroding freedom of religion.

Hutterites who believe that voluntarily allowing their photos to be taken for a driver's license is against the 2nd commandment, lost on appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. The states desire to reduce identity theft trumps an individual's right to uphold (what he perceives to be) the law of God.

A marriage commissioner has lost his battle not to marry a homosexual couple. He too argued that it went against his moral and religious principles to marry the couple.

When Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus murder their family members in honour killings we can argue that "freedom of religion" cannot be used as a valid exculpatory reason to escape justice.

But when, for religious reasons, a person requests exemption from certain actions or duties, and the courts and the legislatures and the HRCs demand that religous freedom does not apply but that actions must be taken, then we see that Canada is not really the "True North, strong and free" we claim it to be.

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The Prince of Peace

I've resisted writing anything about Michael Jackson up until now. On Sunday I bemoaned the fact that it was "all Michael Jackson: Michael Jackson all the time." But when I read a piece on CNN.com, I needed to weigh in.

The mayor of Gary, Indiana (Jackson's home town) wants to have a memorial service there, and have Jackson "lie in state." He called Jackson, "the prince of peace."

CNN reports

Gary Mayor Rudy Clay has been in contact with the Jackson family, hoping to make that happen, spokeswoman Lalosa Burns said Tuesday.

Clay told Chicago radio station WGN that he expects that Jackson's body will, at the least, be taken to Gary for a memorial service he is planning next week.

"I believe that his body will lie in state in Gary, Indiana," Clay said Tuesday. "Now, it may not happen, but I believe it will."

The Jackson memorial service is set for July 10 at U.S. Steel Works ballpark in Gary, Burns said.

It would be "a memorial that's fit for the prince of peace and a memorial that's fit for Gary, Indiana's favorite son, the greatest entertainer that ever lived," Clay said.

Much has been said about Michael Jackson. Some call him "Prince Michael"; others "Wacko Jacko." But this is the first time I've heard him called, "The Prince of Peace"! It is not often that popular culture so clearly displays its idolatry but when a burned out performer is given names reserved for Jesus Christ, it really makes one wonder!

Moreover, lying in state usually only applies when the bodies of government officials or royalty are displayed in the principal government building of a country or city. I suppose the Mayor of Gary wants to cash in on some tourism dollars!

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Adam and Eve: Primitive Parents?

Over at Reformed Academic there is a discussion about origins. Dr. J. Vandermeer of Redeemer University College is suggesting that Adam and Eve had primitive parents and are in some way common offspring from a forebear who also was ancestor to contemporary chimpanzees.

Pastor George van Popta responds to this succinctly on his blog. He presents three cogent arguments why Dr. Vandermeer's ideas should be soundly rejected by Reformed confessors.

Pastor George writes in his introduction:

This response makes three points: Dr. Van der Meer concludes more than he should; his conclusions call for a new way of reading scripture; his conclusions are beyond the pale of the Reformed confessions.

Point your browser over here to read the rest of Pastor George's response.

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Demographic Winter

I watched an interesting documentary this weekend. It's an hour long discussion about the decline of the "human family". Because of declining birth rates around the world, population numbers are dropping all over. Russia, for one, has a decline in population of 700,000 people per year. Most of Europe and the Americas have below replacement birth rates. Latvia, for example is headed for extinction. Only immigration is increasing the populations of the Americas. However, even cities like Detroit have imploding population numbers. One of the most startling declines, however, is Japan. Their failing economy is directly related to its aging population and its policy of "no immigration."

You can visit this website to view some of the info. One of the remarkable conclusions that the documentary came to was that "people of faith" especially those "of the book", Jews, Christians and Muslims have higher than replacement birth rates.

The documentary explores family policy, economics, and tax policy issues. It concludes that affluence, the rise of the middle class and the entrance of women into the workforce creates conditions in which birth rates will decline. Add to that, the breakdown of traditional family structures and easy access birth control and the stage is set for demographic winter. One startling omission in the data was any mention of abortion of unwanted babies and of gender selection (by abortion or in vitro).

This documentary would be an interesting addition to church libraries or high school social study curricula.

Senate Reform

Here is an interesting article on a proposal to reform the Canadian Senate. The suggestion is that the Senators all renounce party affiliation and form regional caucuses instead. I wonder how good that would be. The House of Commans is already becoming balkanized because of regional voting. Would there be a benefit if the Senate became a body of regional representation? What do you think?

(The link is to a google translated article from Devoir and is a bit "bumpy" in places, but still very readable. Google translator and Babelfish at Yahoo do amazing translations.)

Post Modern Collaboration

For years I've had an affinity to some types of Jazz and and to what some call techno-music. Here is a very interesting piece of music done collaboratively via YouTube. The coordinator asked for slow music in Bb for about two minutes. He has compiled sixteen files. Start any or all or some at the same time; use the volume controls as a mixer board. Enjoy your very own post modern mix. It's brilliant.

www.inbflat.net

You can search YouTube for inbflat and find scores of scores. Just start playing them concurrently in separate tabs and create your own song!

h/t to my son, Chris.

A Most Unusual Gathering

Through the means of breakthrough technology, all 6 previous ministers were present in Ottawa at the celebratory gathering for Jubilee Church's 50th anniversary. Left to right: Gerhard Visscher 83-86; Marc Jagt 99 - 07; Hendrick Krabbendam 60-64; John van Popta 93-98; George van Popta 87-92; George van Popta 08- present.

Romans 4 and the New Perspective on Paul: Faith Embraces the Promise

My good friend and colleague Dr. G.H. (Jerry) Visscher has published an
important book entitled "Romans 4 and the New Perspective on Paul: Faith
Embraces the Promise." (Dr. Visscher is the NT Prof at the CanRC Seminary in
Hamilton.)

It has been published by Peter Lang, in the influential series "Studies in
Biblical Literature."

The editor of the series writes in a general preface:

"This series seeks to make available to scholars and institutions, scholarship
of a high order, which will make a significant contribution to the ongoing
biblical discourse."

This book definitely makes a significant contribution to the discussion on the
so called "New Perspective on Paul" (NPP).

Dr. Visscher surveys 5 scholars favoring the "NPP". Then he surveys 5 opposing
the "NPP."

He then extensively investigates the context of Romans 4, and follows that with
a careful exegetical analysis of Romans 4, whereby he shows that the "NPP"
cannot be maintained without substantial revision.

Anybody who is remotely connected to the discussion in our churches about the
"NPP" and interested in understanding what exactly the proponents of the "NPP"
are promoting, needs to read this book.

The concise and thoughtful analysis of the "NPP" scholars and their opponents is
worth the cost of the book itself. The careful analysis of Romans 4 is a
masterful work of Reformed exegesis.

One of the proponents of the "NPP" surveyed in the book, Terence Donaldson,
writes (on the back cover!) "In this thorough and perceptive investigation,
Gerhard H. Visscher draws attention to the weaknesses in various New Perspective
readings of [Romans 4:4] and thus adds his voice to those that call for a new
appreciation of old perspectives."

Dr. Visscher is to be commended for this important and helpful book whereby he
makes a significant contribution to the scholarly discussion taking place in the
theological academies of the world. But this book is doubly important in that it
makes the discussion accessible to pastors, preachers, elders, and to the member
in the pew.

Congratulations to you Jerry. May the Lord bless this work in the studies and
pulpits of many Reformed pastors and churches around the world.


For our American friends this book can be found at

amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Romans-New-Perspective-Paul-Literature/dp/1433105373/ref=s\
r_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242164216&sr=8-1

or

in Canada at

amazon.ca

http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords\
=Gerhard+Visscher&x=0&y=0

Who Would Have Thought?

A new study links the kind of sexually explicit movies and television programming young children watch to the age at which they engage in sexual activity. Who would have thought?

ECP and Ezra Levant

The ECP Center has recruited Ezra Levant to speak at fundraiser dinners in Alberta.

Check it out.

Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary.

If you live in Alberta, make this an important event on your calendar.

This is why we sing Genevan Tunes!

Browsing through Youtube I came across this kind of singing of the Psalms.



Though this music and singing has a wonder and a beauty of its own, it was because the church choirs (only) sang thus, that Calvin contracted out the writing of singable tunes for Congregational singing.

Some of his criteria

- all tunes within one octave range
- only 1/2 and 1/4 notes.
- manageable intervals
- rhythm (Elizabeth one scorned them as the "Genevan Jigs". Apparently she preferred the other style!)
- one syllable -- one note (only broken once or twice in the Genevan Psalter)



This makes the Genevans eminently singable in congregational worship!

The first from Westminster Cathedral (Roman): the second from Westminster Abbey (Anglican)

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Shakedown

Monte Solberg, former CPC cabinet minister and long time MP, writes this about Ezra Levant's new book Shakedown. I think I going to go out and buy it.

The Shack -- Again

Tim Challies has a comprehensive review of the best seller, The Shack. Sometime ago I posted a video review by Mark Driscol, now here is a link to Tim's review. Tim takes a thorough and careful look at the book's teaching on revelation, redemption and the Trinity. All who have read (or plan to read) this book owe it to themselves to read Tim's insightful commentary.

Calvin and Darwin Redux

Back in February I made some comments about Calvin and Darwin, that both had significant anniversaries this year. I wondered if the world would notice Calvin in the 500 anniversary of his birth.

Time magazine did! It's worth a read.


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Making a Difference in the Public Square

A member of our congregation wrote an email to a local radio station manager concerning the "spots" they were running advertising a promotional contest for their station. He wrote

Dear Mr. Cooke

I have K-Lite FM playing on our office radio and have been since November 1997 when I moved my business to Burlington from Toronto. I like it because you play music that appeals to a wide variety of my staff.

This morning, I was listening and it really struck me that when you are promoting your in house contests and you air voice clips from past winners, it seemed that all but one prefaced their joy with the words “oh my God….!” I, as any Christian would be, am deeply offended by this blatant use of the Lord's name. You promote yourself as a family friendly station, but you certainly are not Christian friendly when you use this kind of language.

Is there anything you can do with regards to changing this?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

After some prodding he got this response...

While I completely respect your position as a member of the "Christian Faith", we have an equal number of listeners out there that are not, hence, there is little thought/awareness on the part of most staff and the general public when it comes to using the "Oh My God" phrase. It's not "Top of mind" so to speak.

I cannot account for why people use this phrase when exited about winning,or conversely, when something tragic happens like our soldiers dying in Afghanistan, I hear it used often. I only know that it is a common phrase used in moments of excitement or grief. Something we as Radio operators are not "to manage".

The true usefulness of your note comes to me/us in the form of "awareness", which is what you are doing. Frankly, in my 28 years of managing Radio Operations, I have never run into any concerns regarding this.

However, I am taking inventory of it and will share the same with our production staff. Perhaps in the future, where possible, they can edit the "contest winners" promotional spots to avoid using the phrase.

To that end, I will endeavor to do so as best we can in the future. I have copied this note to our Production Managers and Creative Director to keep them in the loop.

We value you as a Loyal listener with a long track record. Additionally, as a "family friendly" radio station/operation, your concerns have been duly noted. We would never do anything to our listeners that could potentially/deliberately disrupt their day. However, we must both recognize the fact that we live in a huge multi-cultural environment these days, filled with a vast variety of beliefs. Hence, it's difficult to appease everyone. Some folks are offended, while many others aren't.

But, we try! Your comments are appreciated.

Many thanks for your feedback, I trust that you find my response acceptable.

Have a great day!

Best Regards,


Which in turn prompted this reply

I also understand that you do cater to a wide audience, however Christian listeners are typically a “quiet” bunch and tend not to be as vocal as they should be. Therefore, their tendency is to simply turn the station off and move to another one.

I’d appreciate it if consideration can be given to my request, especially given the size of the Reformed Christian community out there that is constantly searching for quality broadcasting.

Which in turn produced this new policy!

Good day

In any event, I'd like you to know that we took the initiative to re-do the promotional announcement as per your request and eliminated the reference to "Oh my God".

Further, we are going to do our best to keep this in mind when preparing future station promos.

Consider it done and thanks for taking the time to drop us a line!

We need to keep you as a loyal listener and trust that we have satisfied your concern.

Best regards,

This simply proves that taking up your pen, or sending an email can have a significant impact in the public square. K-Lite FM claims to be family friendly and has shown that they can also hear and respond positively to the Christian community. Thank you, Mr. Tom Cooke!

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Dr. C. Van Dam on Parliament Hill

Dr. Van Dam of Burlington and professor of Old Testament at the Canadian Reformed Theological College spoke on Parliament Hill this week. Check out a report by my brother, Pastor George. May the LORD bless this work that ARPA is doing.

Dechristianizing the History of Christianity

Now this is political correctness gone over the top. An encyclopedia of Christian history is being edited to make it less Christian! Doh!

Darwin and Calvin

Charles Darwin's birthday was commemorated around the world in many and various ways. Google had a special logo. Discovery Channel ran birthday programs. Daily Planet hosts wore party hats.

I wonder if on July 10, the world will note the 500th birthday of John Calvin.

A Second Pass on Paas

Dr. Paas' book can be found, nearly complete here. I have tracked the book down and plan to write a review for publication. Read further, below.

Taking a pass on Paas!

It is with dismay that I read an analysis of some writings coming from the pen of a newly appointed professor at the Theological University of our “sister churches” in the Netherlands. It seems as if the Dutch Churches are bent on outraging the Reformed world as it is organized in the ICRC. You can find a .pdf in Dutch here It was translated by J. Eikelboom and circulated by P. t’Hart via an email subscription list. You can find the translation here.

I thought I’d interact with that analysis.

Dr. Paas is newly appointed to be lecturer in the “Missionary Congregation Training" course the university of the GKv. What his credentials are for that position are unclear, but he has written and published material on other topics that are worthy of our attention.

Dr. Paas’ writings, as quoted, remind me of the writings of liberal critical scholars of the last century. In the 19th and 20th century there were many biblical scholars who engaged in what is known as “higher criticism”. This type of analysis undermined the historicity, the authority, as well as the divinely inspired character of the Bible. This type of investigation was rooted in a mind set influenced by various disciplines, including the ideas of social Darwinism, and the sociology of religions.

Scholars attempted to discover the root causes and influences that lay behind the development of religions and the rise of tribal and national cultures and myths. Israel’s history was not considered to be any different from that of Canaanite or Egyptian nations. All would be measured with the same rod. From this analysis came conclusions that early Israelite history, as written in Genesis and Exodus, is not an accurate contemporary historical account, but rather a document written much later in the history of Israel to explain how the nation came to be. We call that kind of ancient writing “etiological myths”: myths which explain origins.

Dr. Paas suggests that, “Nowadays there is broad consensus regarding the notion that the early Israelites were ethnically and culturally not different from the Canaanites, but developed from them.” This of course overturns the history of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It undermines the history of God entering into covenant with Abram. It challenges the “separation” between the Canaanites and the children of Abraham.

Moreover, Dr. Paas suggest that, “Although the stories of Exodus and Entrance are a theological reflection, this does not mean that they are completely separate from those events.” That kind of reflection does not fill me with confidence. Liberal critical scholarship places man above the divine Word and takes to itself the authority and competence to judge whether or not “stories” are connected to “history.”

The analysis of Dr. Paas’ position as found on the Dutch Website contains the following quote from his writings.

“Ever since living memory there were in the eastern Nile delta Asians living in close contact with Egyptians. Among these strangers there may very well have been ancestors of the later nation of Israel. The turbulence of this period may in any case have formed the background for the Israelite memories of the Exodus. An exodus could possibly explain how the above-mentioned chiefly social groups of wanderers and farmers could have developed into a nation. The arrival in Canaan of a group of fleeing or expelled Semites can have played a role in that development. Perhaps, but here we begin to speculate, this concerns a group which belonged to the tribe of Levi. According to biblical traditions this tribe did not have its own inheritance in Canaan. The Levites Moses, Hophni and Phinehas had Egyptian names. They were also known as defending champions of Jahwism. In this manner it may be possible to explain part of the above-mentioned religious discontinuity between the Late Bronze culture and those of the Iron-I settlements. An event of that nature explains in any case why in later years Israel for an explanation of its origin, always went back to its slavery and liberation from Egypt. According to the Old Testament their great leader and lawgiver Moses was brought up at the court of the pharaoh. These traditions are so consistently in evidence that it is unlikely that they do not reflect the experiences of at least some of the early Israelites.

Although the stories of Exodus and Entrance are a theological reflection, this does not mean that they are completely separate from those events. … The resulting connection of Israel’s development with Egypt in the biblical traditions should therefore stimulate us to seriously weigh up the possibility of Egypt being the possible nursery room of a number of Israel’s religious notion.

Based on the results of more recent research, we may assume that Israel was initially a Canaanite nation, which apart from other gods worshipped El. During the 12th century the basis was laid for Israel’s later functioning as an independent nation. The arrival of an ‘exodus-group’, which possibly consisted partly of religious zealots, has probably been a contributing stimulating factor.”

If I were to publish such things on this side of the Atlantic, the elders of my church and my colleagues at classis would certainly object strongly and seek to challenge my orthodoxy.

Dr. Paas also believes that Israel’s idea of who God is was influenced and (partially) developed from the religious ideas of the Canaanites and Egyptians.

Not only is the primeval god Atum an aspect of Amun, the same holds for the sun-god Re. Amun is at the same time primeval god, creator god and god of life. Israel assigned this absolute creative power also to its God. The role El played in the Canaanite texts is possibly influenced by this Egyptian theology of Amun-Re. YWHW was occasionally also identified with this most important god of the New Kingdom. The notion of an all-powerful and majestic creator need not therefore have been unknown to Israel in this early stage. These aspects of YHWH must not necessarily be derived from later experiences of Israel in a fast growing world. We can search for its roots also in the history of the people in Palestine.”

Later he concludes:

“Israel’s creation-belief has Canaanite roots and is possibly influenced by Egyptian ideas.”

How can the GKv accept this? If Dr. Geelkerken were alive he would be wondering. “What just happened? A hundred years ago I was expelled from the church for doubting that snakes talked, and now professors are appointed who think that Genesis 1 is based on Egyptian religious mythology.”

Dr Paas writes: “I cherish the thought that it is not unbelief in God as Creator or unbelief in talking serpents that has put me on this track. It is not so that I believe that what is written in Genesis 1-3 is impossible. With God everything is possible. And perhaps it happened that way. But I believe that those questions are simply not the right ones to start with. Genesis 1 does not want to say that God exactly at that moment and in that manner began with the world. In a literary form all of its own this chapter especially wants to say something about the sense and the foundation under our existence here and now. That is its inspiring power and an outstanding instrument to bridge the gap. In other words, Genesis 1 wants to say that and why God has created the world and us. There’s nothing wrong with the question how and when He did that, but it can scarcely be answered from within this chapter. It is only out of deep respect for the Word of God that I want to go this way. God’s Word speaks with absolute authority, indeed. This makes it the more important to examine what God’s Word says precisely.”

Dr. Paas suggests that, “that YHWH was most likely an Israelite offshoot from the Canaanite El.”

All of this smacks of history of religions, sociology of religion, and social Darwinism to me. None of these disciplines has a place in a Biblical hermeneutic that accepts divine inspiration as maintained through the centuries by orthodox Reformed scholars.

I think it is time to begin to raise the profile of these issues among the churches with which the GKv has formal relations.

Police Intimidation to Silence the Voice of the Unborn

Ezra Levant writes about the demise of free expression at a Canadian University Campus. Shame on the University of Calgary

The Red-Stew Budget

Stephen Harper's conservatives abandoned "social conservatives" several years ago. Now he's crossed the floor on conservative fiscal policy as well. The new budget is a sell out of conservative birthright, sold for a bowl of liberal "red-stew."

Abortion Funding

This speaks for itself!

Response to my Letter to the PM

Some time ago I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister Today I got a response from Rob Nicholson. For the sake of completeness, here is that letter.

Dear Pastor van Popta:

The Office of the Prime Minister has forwarded to me a copy of your correspondence concerning the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC).

Freedom of expression is a fundamental freedom enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which, in a free and democratic society, may be limited only when such an action is justified. The Government of Canada is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights. Canada’s record on human rights is second to none; it is a record of which all Canadians can be proud.

As you may be aware, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal are independent agencies that administer the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA), according to procedures specified by law, without interference from the Government.

In your correspondence, you express concerns with respect to section 13 of the CHRA. The CHRC launched a comprehensive policy review on how best to deal with hate messages on the Internet, which also included an independent review of section 13 and the role of the Commission by Professor Richard Moon of the University of Windsor. On November 24, 2008, the CHRC released Professor Moon’s final report. I am in receipt of the report and will be reviewing its recommendations.

In the last Parliament, a motion was also put before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights by a Conservative Member of Parliament to examine the mandate and operations of the CHRC, including its interpretation and application of provisions relating to section 13 of the CHRA.

I appreciate having had your comments brought to my attention.

Yours truly,


The Honourable Rob Nicholson

Obama-nation

When idols become idolaters the Obama-nation becomes an obamanation!

Thank You Lord, for a Beautiful Day

This I think is a measure of "political correctness" gone wild!

h/t Dave H.

John Calvin meets Podcasting on his 500th Birthday

Here is a beautiful opportunity to do something many of us have never done....

John Calvin's Institutes are available by podcast, read by a man with a pleasant voice.

You can listen HERE

This is a remarkable project by Princeton. There will be a new 10 to 15 minute reading posted every day, for the following year.

You can subscribe to it at iTunes for free.

Happy listening and Happy Birthday Jean Cauvin!