What Matters To You – Weekly Column

Stealing from children is not considered to be an admirable thing to do.  Not many people would say that a person who did this was a good person, let alone go around trying to tell others that they are the best thing since sliced bread.  Nor would most people take part willingly spending the stolen money of children on themselves...

On Thursday, January 12, the main floor of the Anohka Distillery near Carvel was transformed into a hall of celebration as members from the Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland constituency gathered to honor 30 admirable members of their communities. “It was an honor and a privilege as the MLA to recognize the Platinum Jubilee Medal recipients as well as the runners-up,” said...

Emergencies Act Well, 2022 was anything but boring. We garnered worldwide attention back in February for a convoy of trucks that put the spotlight on Canada concerning the Federal protocols surrounding COVID-19. That "fringe minority with unacceptable views" was a heck of a lot larger than the PM wanted to recognize. In fact, it broke down barriers and moved us...

Bullies Can Bring You Together I’ve had to stand up to bullies my entire life; many times, it wasn’t just in my own defence but for others, I’ve cared for.  Growing up in a small country school comprised mainly of farm kids, issues were generally sorted out on the playground, and there was little harm done.  Often when the bully...

Remembrance Day 2022 The Speaker of the House held a Remembrance Day service in the Legislature at the rotunda the first week of November, and my schedule allowed me to attend. The transition from fall to winter is always bittersweet this time of year. How similar it is when we remember our fallen soldiers. Our country is young, but we...

It’s that time of year again: the leaves have turned color (let’s hope they cling to their respective branches as long as possible)! Most of the garden is out, the majority of the crops are off, and the kids have probably brought home a cold or flu bug to share with the rest of the family lovingly. Like many, I’m...

It’s easy to get lost in all the negativity and bad news that is floating around these days. Heck, in my role as the MLA it’s difficult for me to not to absorb and carry the weight of my constituent’s troubles as my own. In these days of instant communication, social media, and 24-hour access to it all, the bad...

Canada Day is defined by Wikipedia as: ‘the anniversary of only one important national milestone on the way to the country's full sovereignty, namely the joining on July 1, 1867, of the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a wider British federation of four provinces (the colony of Canada being divided into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec upon Confederation). Canada became a "kingdom in...

We think we live in a “Free” country; I’ve heard it said often.  I’ve said it myself in the past, heck our provincial motto is “Strong and Free”, and our national anthem has a famous line we all know: “The True North, Strong and Free”. Over the last few years, however, I have developed some very real concerns over the...

I was told several times by folks who have been in politics for longer than I have that during election periods it’s often called “The Silly Season”.  Having been through one election cycle in 2019, I got a small glimpse of what they meant, but this year: WOW.  I get it now in full detail.  With all of the restrictions...