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President's Message

As I write this message, Mr. Justice Gomery has just issued his report on the AdScam Enquiry. There were really no great surprises. Anyone who followed the news was already well aware that the Liberal Party had acted in a most outrageous manner.

I think the most upsetting part of this scandal is not so much the waste of taxpayers' money due to, as Justice Gomery claimed, the "greed, venality and misconduct both in government and advertising and communications agencies", but the effect it has on society as whole, especially our youth. If Canadians were not already cynical about governments and politicians in general before the AdScam Enquiry, they are certainly very cynical now.

With good reason. The parliamentary website lists four specific areas of responsibility for the Canadian Members of Parliament:

1. representing constituents in Parliament,
2. making laws,
3. watchdogs on government,
4. party supporters.

First of all, how responsible have Members of Parliament been in representing their constituencies? We know very well that when Mr. Martin puts pressure on his people to vote his way on contentious issues, all too often the constituents take second place. For example, there were a number of brave Liberals who defied their party with respect to the same-sex marriage legislation, but many Liberal MP's voted expressly against the wishes of their constituents….and I expect also their consciences.

Secondly, the Members of Parliament are expected to enact laws. That they do, to be sure, but again, all too often the laws do not reflect the public will. If they did, we would have legislation passed, for example, to raise the age of consent for sexual activity, and more minimum sentences would be imposed for serious crimes.

The third point, to act as watchdogs on the government, is laughable when applied to our present ruling party. The only watchdogs appear to be the opposition parties, and even one of these opposition parties has been willing, in order to force a left-wing agenda, to continue supporting a party which it claims is completely unethical!

With respect to the fourth point, I suppose some credit can be given to the MPs for party support, even if such support is misplaced. My sympathies are with those honest Liberals who must try to defend the indefensible. They must find it extremely difficult to support a government which continues to make patronage appointments, which continues to waste taxpayers' money in areas, such as the ineffectual gun registry program, and which punishes anyone who dares to vote in conscience against the wishes of the party leader.

It seems that many Canadians take the attitude that a certain amount of corruption is to be expected in government. Where they should be outraged, they simply shrug their shoulders, considering this to be "business as usual". It is true that every political party runs the risk, when in power for any length of time, of becoming arrogant and "entitled" to act without due concern for the public good. Such behaviour, however, is never acceptable, and people should be vehement in their protests!

What can we do? We can continue to telephone and write our Members of Parliament when we are concerned about issues, and we can make sure, at election time, to vote for honest, conscionable candidates. We can also, and most importantly, pray for Canada. Never underestimate the power of prayer!

May the Blessings of the Holy Season be with your family now and always.

God bless you all!

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