Here is an interesting perspective!

Here is a man who would put "hot iron to flesh" for information!

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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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.

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!

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.)

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.

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.

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!

Letter to PM Stephen Harper

Dear Mr. Harper

I was encouraged to hear reports about your comments on the HRC's (both provincial and federal). As a Pastor of a Christian Church, I am willing to stand up for the things I believe in. That might mean, however, that I am prosecuted by Ms. Hall and her team of commissioners. I believe that British common law and Canada's "hate-laws" provide sufficient protection for all, against libel, slander and "hate-crimes". It's time to "de-fang" the vipers in our midst and decommission the commissioners.

With respect ... and congratulations on your re-election.
May God keep our land, glorious and free!


John van Popta
Pastor
Fellowship Canadian Reformed Church
Burlington ON

Dion's New Tax

I think it was last year sometime that I read that as Stephen Harper and his Minister of Finance were cutting taxes and the GST, they were also undercutting the Liberal Party's ability to find money for great social engineering spending programs. The Liberals didn't take long to find a new way to advance their cause. Find a new tax. They couldn't, with any credibility suggest that they'd raise the GST or income tax to spend their billions on whom ever they wanted to make recipients of their largesse. So they've hooked their "tax cow" to the "environmental cart". They'll tax the living daylights out of "carbon sources", with the mantra, "this is for the planet"; but really it's for their programs.

And may all of you have pleasant and blessed "Dominion Day."