On Parliament Hill

As a Canadian, I feel incredibly blessed to live in a peaceful, free and democratic country. When we consider the problems that people face in many parts of the world such as the Middle East, Pakistan or Ukraine, we in Canada are very fortunate.

While visiting Israel this past summer, I witnessed first-hand the threat of incoming rocket fire as I was forced to take cover in bomb shelters several times. Although I am glad that the Israeli government is properly equipped to defend their country, I am thankful that we in Canada do not face threats of this scale.

Despite our good fortune as a country, there are incidents however which threaten our peace on occasion. The senseless acts of terror that led to the loss of the lives of two Canadian soldiers in October and the attack on Parliament Hill are sober reminders that it is our duty to stand strong in the face of these cowardly actions. Having been in a meeting room on Parliament Hill just feet away from where the shooter was taken down, I felt that our safety and freedom as a country were under attack.

In our efforts to protect Canada, I strongly support our Government’s strong yet measured response to these incidents. Although I am concerned for our country and institution of government, I do feel that peace is attainable. After all our country has experienced challenges over our history including conflicts such as WWI, WWII, Korea and Afghanistan. Despite the threats against our safety, freedom and faith, Canadian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the values that we hold dear and for this we are forever thankful.

Despite the challenges we face as a nation, we will overcome them and be stronger as a result. This Christmas season, we can all take comfort in knowing that here in Canada we continue to enjoy peace, good government and the freedom to practice our faith.

Among our many blessings, we also should be reminded that we live in one of the most beautiful and clean countries in the world. With our ease of travel within our own country, we can literally experience the vastness of the prairies, the immensity of the Rocky Mountains, or visit the coastline of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, without ever leaving Canada. We also have a healthcare system that is the envy of many around the world, a prosperous economy, access to clean water and food and enjoy a peaceful and democratic political system.

With this in mind, I think that I can speak for all of us in Provencher in saying that we live in the best country in the world.

I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a blessed the New Year.