Gerald Hall

Not in our backyard!

When I first heard that an application had been made to Health Canada by William MacLean on behalf of a company called Wildflower Marijuana Inc.to put a so called medical marijuana grow-op in our community at the end of Paradise Place I drove down to see the 125-acre parcel of land chosen at the end of Paradise Place.

Add this to the myth list

I fear that yet too many people out there assume that because something is "legal" it is good, safe and in the best interests of the public. Legality is not nor ever has been necessarily equal to good.

Where is the substance?

The more I listen to what comes out of Justin Trudeau's mouth the more convinced I am that he is indeed in "over his head" and should he manage to deceive his way into power with the vacuous promises we have been hearing disaster would befall this country as night follows day.

Apathy reigns!

A pro-Hamas rally in Calgary this Wednesday and similar recent events in Toronto, Mississauga, Toronto and Montreal are very much in tune with anti-Semitic protests in Paris, Berlin, and Turkey and a rising tide of anti-Semitism around the world.

"Never again" - so why is it happening?

Sixty-nine years ago after the Second World War the term "never again" was coined by the United Nations to ensure that the human catastrophe called the Holocaust would never again happen.This has turned out to be in large measure an empty promise since our generation has witnessed the Cambodia killing fields, the Rwanda genocide, Srebencia and Kosovo and little is being done about the current tragedy in Syria.

Who is running the country anyway?

The majority of Canadians would agree that free expression is the lifeblood of democracies and that freedom of speech, especially on matters of conscience, is a fundamental right under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. There is increasing evidence for the perfect validity of questioning whether or not our Supreme Court really believes this.

Defender of the poor and the downtrodden?

Hypocrisy is never a good character trait, especially in those who aspire to leadership positions.

I still like "Dominion Day"

I am a proud Canadian. I love our history, traditions, freedoms and unique geography.

Christians are covered under the charter too

Make no mistake about it. The disgraceful decision by a group of bigoted and ignorant Nanaimo City councillors on May 5th of this year to ban a Christian event from the Nanaimo Convention Center should alarm every Canadian who values their freedom under our Charter.

Unconscionable

Is there anybody left in the country that takes Justin Trudeau seriously when he talks about an "open" nomination process with one breath, but in the next decrees a hard rule that all new MP's must uphold a woman's right to choose abortion.

A lethal Bill

When Bill 52 passed in Quebec's National Assembly, Quebec became the first province in Canada to legalize medically assisted dying. This bill purports to to be about respecting "end-of-life" but in fact gives Quebec physicians the right to intentionally and directly cause the death of persons by lethal injection.

The Politics of Intolerance

Justin Trudeau is nothing if not the master of contradictions. He has repeatedly claimed he does not believe in the politics of division yet with his pro-choice (for abortion) edict he has re-opened the divisive issue of abortion and caused division even in his own party. He claims his "role is to stand up and defend all Canadians" yet he has disqualified over 60% of Canadians from joining the Liberal Party.

Let God be true

In his article "Christian Faith Requires Accepting Evolution" Jonathan Dudley amazingly asserts that Christians who reject the false science so thoroughly interwoven into the theory of evolution have "abandoned a central commitment of orthodox Christianity." He further falsely asserts that Christians are somehow opposed to scientists pursuit and discovery of truth.

Thank you, Preston

Almost unnoticed by the media but included in Stephen Harpers' victory speech was a most fitting and appropriate "thank you" mention of Preston Manning, founder of the old Reform Party and later the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance.. When he created the Reform Party in Vancouver in 1987 Preston Manning initiated nothing less than a transformation in Canadian politics culminating in the majority Conservative government Canadians elected May 2.

Tours, ads, memos and the unthinkable

Tours, ads and memos could be an indication of an imminent Federal election. The NDP is preparing to spend a record amount of money on their planned campaign. The Conservatives have launched a series of new ads targeting the opposition and heightening election speculation. Opposition leaders Layton and Ignatieff are on the road with speeches and appearances.

Why so confident Mr. Ignatieff?

You really have to wonder what polls Michael Ignatieff is reading these days with his recent assertion that Canadians are ready for an election and his Liberal party is prepared for one. Really! According to the latest Ipsos Reid survey, 60 percent of voters believe the political process is working fine and there is no pressing need for an election. Most recent polls also have the Conservatives pulling significantly of the Liberals ahead in popularity. A number of polls over the past few years consistently show Canadian's preference for Stephen Harper over Ignatieff on the leadership issue. These are not the thirties and forties when Liberals formed governments in five or six of Canada's ten provinces and Liberals dominated federal politics. For the past three federal elections the middle-class electors have been turning to the Conservatives. The Conservatives are able to consistently and significantly outperform the Liberals in fund raising and the warnings of outgoing Liberal treasurer Michael Yabsley about the party's financial woes and the tepid poll numbers for the Liberals should be enough to cause Mr Ignatieff to be careful what he wishes for in the new year.

Votes not worth principles

The mainstream media continues to criticize Stephen Harper for recently losing a bid for a seat on the UN Security Council while blatantly ignoring the real reason for our rejection. Harper told a recent Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combatting Anti-Semitism (politicians from more than 40 countries) he will continue to support Israel even if it costs us internationally.

An untimely message

British atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens get a lot of ink and media attention for their often declared mission to disprove the existence of God. One can look in vain for even one note of positivity, hope or encouragement in the grim message they obviously feel the world needs.