Lethbridge Herald: New Year, New Canada

 The New Year is a time for fresh starts—an opportunity to leave behind the past and set new goals for the future. 

For Canada, this New Year holds even greater significance, as we stand at a crossroads.

Canada was once a beacon of opportunity on the global stage, a country where anyone could succeed, regardless of their background. Hard work and personal responsibility were the keys to success, and the Canadian economy was a model of prosperity. Jobs were plentiful, wages were rising, and Canadians could afford to buy homes in safe, thriving communities. The Canadian dream seemed within reach for everyone.

But today, the promise of Canada is broken.

Canadians are struggling under the weight of a corrupt government. People across the country are finding it harder than ever to make ends meet. Rising rent, soaring grocery prices, and sky-high gas costs have stretched household budgets to the breaking point. Simple pleasures like taking a road trip or going on vacation have become distant memories for many.

We are not at our best. But it doesn't have to stay this way.

As we usher in 2025, Canada stands at a critical moment in its history. We face a choice. One path leads to further decline—continued government waste, rising crime, crushing debt, and higher taxes that drain the life out of the Canadian spirit. The other path leads to the rebuilding of the Canadian dream—a Canada where hard work pays off, where homeownership is within reach, and where streets are safe again.

This is the vision that conservatives are committed to. It’s the common-sense approach to getting Canada back on track. It starts by uniting this country.

While Justin Trudeau has spent his time dividing Canadians— pitting one people group against another, one region against another, one language group against another, one religious group against another—our approach is different. Pierre Poilievre’s vision for Canada is one of unity, where we come together around a common hope: human flourishing.

And we will do this by returning to the values that built this country. We will champion the hard-working Canadians who make this country run—the electrician who ensures that homes have light, the farmer who puts food on our tables, the policewoman who keeps our communities safe, and the grandmother who looks after her grandkids so their mother can work an extra shift to pay the bills. These are the people we are fighting for.

Like any New Year’s resolution, this starts by removing what holds us back. And right now, the biggest roadblock is the Liberal government’s endless taxation. Our priority is simple: eliminate the carbon tax so Canadians can afford their gas, groceries, and home heating again.

In the fall of 2024, the House of Commons declared that housing in Canada is in crisis. In Lethbridge, housing prices jumped by 16 percent in 2024. This isn’t an isolated problem; it’s a national issue. A common-sense Conservative government will build homes, not bureaucracies. We will tie federal infrastructure funding to housing construction and eliminate the gatekeepers who stand in the way of new developments. We’ll also remove the sales tax on new homes under $1 million, making homeownership more accessible to Canadians.

But the biggest challenge we face is fixing Canada’s budget. Just before Christmas, the Fall Economic Statement revealed a shocking $62 billion deficit, bringing Canada’s national debt to an eye-watering $1.3 trillion. Trudeau has added more debt than all previous prime ministers combined. And when the government borrows, Canadians are stuck with the bill.

A common-sense Conservative government will cap government spending with a dollar-for-dollar rule, ensuring that every new dollar spent is matched with a dollar in savings. This will help lower interest rates and inflation, bringing financial relief to Canadians who are struggling.

Alongside affordability and housing challenges, we are facing a surge in crime and drug abuse. In December alone, Lethbridge police charged eight people with drug trafficking. Since Trudeau took office, overdose deaths have risen by 184 per cent. This is a national crisis that demands action.

A Conservative government will end Trudeau’s catch-and-release policies for drug criminals and reinstate longer jail sentences for those who traffic in drugs. We will also ban the importation of fentanyl precursors to stop the flow of deadly drugs into our communities. This crisis must be addressed. We owe it to our families to make our communities safe again.

As we move into 2025, we are more determined than ever to restore the promise of Canada. We will eliminate the carbon tax, build more homes, fix the budget, and tackle crime head-on. The choice is clear: together, we can restore the promise of Canada we all know and love.

Lethbridge Herald: The Green Slush Fund Scandal

If government officials funneled $400 million of your tax dollars into their own pockets, you would have heard about it, right?

Not quite.

With conflicts of interest, shady transactions, and secret memos, the Green Slush Fund fiasco has all the makings of a news-worthy story. But the mainstream media has turned a blind eye—as if to shield the Liberal government from the consequences of its actions.

So, since the mainstream media won’t cover it. Let me get right to the heart of the scandal.

At the centre of this story is the Liberal government and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). The SDTC has a fund that gives grants to innovative companies with solutions to improve Canada’s environmental record. This is funded by the federal government—in other words—your tax dollars.

These grants are distributed by a board of decision makers appointed by the government. Despite the many capable individuals with strong environmental knowledge that could have served effectively on this board, the Liberals decided to appoint friends.

Once appointed, these Liberal-insiders made the decision to dole out money to their own companies.

$400 million was handed out to line the pockets of Liberal insiders. Many of the projects chosen for funding were not even eligible.

This is the essence of hypocrisy. While Canadians struggle to make ends meet, Liberal insiders are getting rich off taxpayer money in the name of environmentalism. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister smugly carries on.

This huge scandal would have gone unnoticed, had it not been for a brave whistleblower.

The Liberals enabled corruption and tried to get the bloated bureaucracy to cover it up, but one trustworthy individual was brave enough to pull back the curtain and reveal the board’s fraudulent behaviour.

When this scandal was uncovered in committee, Conservative members promptly took action to generate transparency and invite accountability from the Canadian public. We brought forward a parliamentary order to call on the government to relinquish all documents and evidence related to the scandal to the RCMP.

Despite this edict, the Liberals have refused to turn over the documents. In response, the Speaker of the House ruled that Parliament cannot debate anything else until it deals with this corruption scandal. Hence, this has been the only point of debate in the House of Commons since September.

Why won’t the Liberals release the documents?

If the board members acted fraudulently without the government’s knowledge shouldn’t Trudeau be concerned and want to get to the bottom of it? Shouldn’t he want the RCMP to investigate?

The Liberals are going to great lengths to make sure the documents remain secret. Even to the point of grinding parliament to a halt.

What are the Liberals hiding?

Whatever is in those documents must be so incriminating that it is worth paralyzing Parliament and cancelling part of the fall session.

Canadians deserve better.

The Green Slush Fund scandal is crucial for Canadians to understand because it raises significant concerns about government transparency, accountability, and the proper use of taxpayer money.

As elected officials, we are responsible to the Canadian public and it is our duty to be held to account, especially when in government.

The Liberals believe they can get away with corruption by concealing documents.

This is dishonest and dangerous. By failing to cooperate, the Liberal government is eroding public trust.

Sadly, the Green Slush Fund is just one of many cases of corruption under this Liberal government.

Over the past nine years, we have seen scandal after scandal.

Remember the WE Charity debacle? The Liberals were set to disburse up to $912 million to their friends at WE Charity. Both Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Morneau had close ties to the leadership of WE Charity. These connections raised questions about conflicts of interest and favoritism in awarding the contract, especially given that WE Charity was selected to administer the program without a competitive bidding process.

The ArriveCan App is another example. $60 million was given to two Liberal insiders to generate an app that could have been developed in a day or two for a few thousand dollars. 

Canadians deserve honesty and accountability, not secrecy and cover-up.

Conservatives are working hard to hold the Liberals to account, but ultimately, the power is in the hands of the people.

Change is needed now. An election is needed now.

Lethbridge Herald: Lest We Forget: Honouring Their Sacrifice

“We are the dead, short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved.”

Whether it be a local ceremony at the nearest legion, a Remembrance Day school assembly, or a solemn moment at the Lethbridge Cenotaph, on November 11th we will stop to remember our heroes. We will honour those who left the comfort of home to secure a future of peace and liberty for us all.

The present freedom we enjoy is only made possible by the sacrifice of the brave men and women of our own hometown and Country. These local Canadian heroes endured the unimaginable for our freedom.

During World War I, Lethbridge had the highest per capita enlistment of soldiers of anywhere in Canada. Among them were the famed 31st Battalion and other regiments that fought valiantly at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. On the battlefields of Europe, they faced unimaginable horrors as they engaged in trench warfare and forged a legacy that still inspires us today.

Sadly, 157 men never made it back to Lethbridge alive. They never came back to stop by their favourite shops, enjoy the beauty of the nearby mountains and above all, embrace those they loved.

Their sacrifice is felt today through the freedom we know and enjoy.  

Today, the Lethbridge Cenotaph stands to commemorate these 157 brave men. In its unveiling in 1931, Lieutenant-Governor Walsh stated: “unfortunately, it is one of the frailties of our human nature that we often neglect or entirely forget events and persons whom we should hold in imperishable memory”.

Today and every day we are responsible for honouring their memory and their sacrifice.

During World War II, Lethbridge once again stood strongly in defense of Canada as many enlisted to fight against tyranny. Lethbridge was home to the 4th Canadian Armoured Division and contributed to significant campaigns, including those in Europe and the Pacific.

Local communities rallied around the troops, hosting events to support families and raise funds for the war effort.

From the home front to the battlefield, the people of Lethbridge shined as an example of true communal strength.

In total, more than 45,000 brave men and women gave their lives during WWII.

We remember and honour their immense sacrifice.

After the war, many veterans returned to Canada with physical, emotional, and psychological scars. Despite these hardships and enduring the unimaginable horrors of combat, most soldiers went on to contribute to society in meaningful ways.

When World War I began, Lethbridge resident, William Edward Frame, enlisted in the army and defended his country overseas. Sadly, he was badly wounded and had to return home. For his courage and service, William Edward Frame was awarded with the Military Cross from King George V. Though his military service had to come to an abrupt halt, his service to others continued as he became a local school principal and invested in the lives of countless young people.

As World War II broke out, William Edward Frame once again enlisted to protect Canada. During this time, William Edward Frame served as a Major in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corp. This unit ensured the troops were well-equipped with transport, clothing, and weaponry. After the war, William Edward Frame returned home and continued his work in the education field. He was appointed as Alberta’s Chief Superintendent of Schools.

William Edward Frame’s service to Canada is an example of the extraordinary work and dedication of local men who stepped up to fight on behalf of the country they believed in. His life stands out as one of humble service to his fellow Canadians.

While there are very few world war veterans still living, we must remember all those who have sacrificed and who continue to sacrifice in defending our freedoms. Their experiences remind us of the cost of peace and the importance of gratitude.

On Remembrance Day and every day, we have a duty to uphold and honour the memory of these individuals and care for the veterans who gave so much.

We must continue to stand on guard for Canada and protect our liberty and peace.

As John McCrae wrote in his famous poem, In Flanders Field, “To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high.”