Report From Parliament's Hill: December 20th

By Prince George - Peace River M.P. Jay Hill

Thursday, December 20, 2007 03:44 AM

Spreading Peace and Christmas Wishes Around the World

As we approach Christmas 2007, I can’t help but reflect on the past year. What a difference this year will be for me! I spent last Christmas in Afghanistan where I had the honour of helping to serve turkey and all the trimmings to our men and women in uniform.

Comedian Rick Mercer, who travelled with our small group at the invitation of Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier, recently said that never in his wildest dreams (or nightmares) did he imagine waking up on Christmas morning at an army outpost in Afghanistan to find me handing him a cup of coffee and glancing across the tent only to see Environment Minister John Baird in his underwear!

It is especially at this time of year that my thoughts are with our troops overseas. While they are away from their families and friends for birthdays and anniversaries and other special occasions, being away from home on Christmas day in a war-torn country is a tremendous sacrifice. The fact that these men and women voluntarily commit themselves to keeping watch to instil security and peace is the best Christmas present they could ever give to Canadians and those in need around the world.

As we approach this Christmas, the spirit of giving remains strong among Canadians and their government. Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently announced that Canada, in partnership with UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and other donor countries, is leading an ambitious initiative to improve healthcare for impoverished mothers and children in Africa and Asia.

This Canadian-led initiative will deliver basic, cost-effective and life-saving health service to mothers and children in countries where the needs are greatest. Canada’s contribution of $105-million over five years will train over 40,000 health workers and provide much-needed treatment for diseases such as malaria, measles and malnutrition. These efforts alone are expected to save 200,000 lives in Africa.

And just this week, at the outset of this season of peace, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier announced that Canada is increasing its support to the Middle East peace process by committing $300-million over the next five years for Palestinian reform and development.

The Israelis and Palestinians have committed to concluding negotiations in the peace process within one year. While ambitious, this goal is attainable if the Palestinian government can build security, governance and prosperity for its people. In order to develop and build a viable state, the Palestinian Authority urgently requires financial support from the world and Canada will be there, ready to support their efforts to live in peace and security as a neighbour to Israel.

For those Canadians who are fortunate to gather together with their friends and family for the holidays, we can rejoice that we already enjoy the peace that is beyond the reach of so many around the world.

On behalf of my family and staff, I wish you and yours the merriest possible Christmas!

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 03:44 AM in Views by Prince George - Peace River M.P. Jay Hill

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: BCRacer on December 20 2007 4:46 AM

THE LAW IS THE LAW?

I hope this makes its way around CANADA several times over!!!

So if the CANADIAN government determines that it is against the law for the words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.

And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.

And since they already have prohibited any prayer in the schools, on which they deem their authority, then so be it.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding Canadian citizen.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions.

I would like to think that those people have the Canadian Public's best interests at heart.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot post His Commandments in Government buildings, I don't believe the Government and its employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas.... celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating
from many facets of Canadian life.

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter.After all, it's just another day.

I'd like our Government to be in session on Christmas,
Good Friday,Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day.

I'd like ALL Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the"Christmas Break." After all ~~~it's just another day.

I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter. It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct."

In fact....

I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God...) because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day....

What do you all think????

If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the minority opinions and begin, once again, to represent the majority" of ALL of the people. SO BE IT...........

HELP RETURN SANITY TO CANADA!!

Posted by: ammonra on December 20 2007 8:30 AM

Well, I don't see what BCRacer's comments have to do with Jay Hill's report, but still...

I always thought the characteristics recommended by the Apostle Paul for Christians included love, peace, joy, long suffering etc. Those would appear to be sadly missing in BCRacer's rather sarcastic attack.

To make the point, Christians are actually in a minority in Canada, and religious commitment is declining at a rate of about 1% annually, according to the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance (http://www.religioustolerance.org/),so the majority viewpoint would therefore probably be to leave it alone.

I do find it interesting that this annual attack on non-Christian groups and Canadian society is always presented as a demand for rights. It always ignores what people say, as in this case. jay Hill refers to "Christmas" throughout his comments. He does not refer to "Holidays" as a generic inclusion, but his comments are still used as the basis for yet another pointless demand to restore things that nobody in Canada has even lost.

Posted by: diplomat on December 20 2007 9:05 AM

To BCRacer. Speaking about obeying the Ten Commandments:

�The essence of the matter is that Jesus Christ is against the spirit of war in every form. He is against war�and someday He will put an end to it forever!

�He is against all malice and envy and hate. Jesus Christ taught the dignity of man and the sacredness of human life��Created in the image of God.�

�And the great Father of Jesus Christ, the Almighty God who governs the universe from His throne in heaven, that God thunders at an age of violence and rebellion: �Thou shalt not kill.��

Canada is at WAR with Afghanistan, so the media and the government tell us. I don't recall Afghanistan declaring war on Canada.

The Ten Commandments came into being as a moral and ethical code and to be actually obeyed, rather than just touted as some feel-good mantra to be repeated over and over.

Posted by: Raparee on December 20 2007 9:08 AM

When has "Under God" ever been on Canadian money? When has the instillation of the 10 Commandments in government buildings ever been an issue in Canada? How long did it take Racer to substitute "US" for "Canada" in that mass e-mailing?
According to Stats Canada, 70% of Canadians identify themselves as being Roman Catholic or Protestant (http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/Analytic/companion/rel/canada.cfm). Saying Merry Christmas instead of a meaningless Happy Holidays is reflective of the values of the majority of Canadians and is actually one of the few things that "Canada's New Government" has got right.

Posted by: BCRacer on December 20 2007 3:01 PM

Whoa people, I was sending a message to the so call representative of this area..
I am sorry if I ruffled your feathers or hurt your feelings or appeared to take meaing out of the holidays.

Posted by: Chester on December 20 2007 8:03 PM

The majority of people I run into want to say Merry Christmas, but are fearful or hesitant because of some minority group somewhere has taken issue with it. Well, I am only one person with only one voice and I say Merry Christmas to everyone I see. How they respond is their perogative and rights. It's disappointing to see people compromising their beliefs to try to fit in rather than stand out and stand up for their own rights and how they feel. Chester

Posted by: Palopu on December 20 2007 9:24 PM

In our so-called Multi Cultural society if we allowed praying in schools for all religions and faiths, we would spend all day praying, and never get any work done.