On Parliament Hill

As we look back on 2017, there is no doubt that this past year had its share of challenges. But in this column, I don’t want to simply focus on the challenges remaining, rather, I would like to take a moment to look back and celebrate a few of the victories from this past year.

Earlier this year, Conservatives succeeded in forcing the Liberals to back down on some of the worst aspects of their small business tax hikes. We were proud to be the voice of taxpayers in Parliament, standing with impacted farmers, doctors, and entrepreneurs to reject the unfair changes that would have hurt so many small businesses and their employees in communities right across Canada.

Conservatives also worked hard this year to hold Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Government to account on various ethical breaches. After repeated questions in the House of Commons, and after sending the matter to the Ethics Commissioner, Prime Minister Trudeau was found to have violated several conflict of interest rules. In fact, he is the first sitting prime minister in Canadian history to officially be cited for violating parliamentary ethics rules. The Liberals of today appear to be the same as the Liberals of yesterday; they simply don’t believe the rules apply to them. Conservatives will continue to hold Justin Trudeau and the Liberals to account going forward. Canadians deserve nothing less.

In November, I was very pleased to see the Liberal Government back down from a dangerous proposal in Bill C-51 that would have removed protections for worshipers and clergy attending religious services. Those changes would have had serious implications on religious freedom. However, the Liberals only backed down after Conservative MPs and Canadians from across the country challenged them. This was a huge win for all Canadians as our country’s foundation is built on the principles of the supremacy of God and the rule of law.

But now, just before Christmas, the Liberal government has been caught trying to sneak another radical change past Canadians. They’re changing the rules of the Canada Summer Jobs program to require applicants to sign a statement agreeing with the Liberal government’s pro-abortion position or be rejected for government funding.

This change is extremely divisive and Canadians should be very skeptical of a government that is basing funding decisions on whether or not you hold the same beliefs as they do.

If the Liberals don’t back down as they did with Bill C-51, individuals and groups who hold pro-life and pro-family positions will no longer be able to receive funding to help care for the disabled, refugees, or even provide day camps for children in need. We’re talking about the activities of non-profit groups who serve their communities in admirable ways.

However, even as the Liberal government attempts to take away our fundamental freedoms one by one, you can be assured that Conservatives will fight for Canadians and for our foundational beliefs every step of the way.

Looking forward, the new year will, as always, bring many new challenges. From reckless Liberal spending, to expected tax hikes, to NAFTA negotiations, to issues with the Phoenix pay system, and responding to international conflicts, there are many challenges ahead. As Conservatives, we will continue to work hard to keep the government accountable and we will continue to be the common-sense voice of the Canadian taxpayer and Canadian families.

It has been an honour to serve you as the Member of Parliament for Provencher in 2017 and I look forward to continuing to do so in the new year. As always, please feel free to contact my office should you have any questions or concerns of a federal nature.

Happy New Year!