On July 1, 2011, we celebrate Canada’s 144th birthday.  Given the world events in recent months, this is a perfect time to pause and reflect on how lucky we are to enjoy the freedoms we do. Northern Albertans come from diverse backgrounds and that each of us is free to live our lives within our own beliefs without fear of persecution.

Canada Day is also the unofficial kickoff of summer fun for many. Schools are closed for the summer and the long hot days of summer lie ahead. I encourage you to make use of our many beautiful lakes, campsites, hiking trails and to simply enjoy the beautiful area where we live.

I also ask that you please use care and common sense while you enjoy Northern Alberta. The recent wildfires that caused so much devastation to the residents of Slave Lake is a reminder to all of us to take extra caution with our campfires and to never, never throw a cigarette out a vehicle window.

Drive safely, whether you’re behind the wheel of your car, your boat or your quad. It distresses me how many accidents involve alcohol, despite all the warnings and more severe penalties that are now in place.

Play safe!

NEWS FROM OTTAWA

Defending National Security and the Integrity of the Canadian Armed Forces

Over the past year, an ad hoc committee of Parliamentarians has studied thousands of the most sensitive documents pertaining to Canadian-transferred Taliban Prisoners. The Members of Parliament chose what they felt were the most crucial of these redacted documents to be reviewed by an independent Panel of Arbiters -- some of Canada's top legal minds. Minister Baird tabled the results in the House of Commons this afternoon. The vast majority of the original redactions were upheld and no credible allegations against the men and women of Canada's military were found. This concludes the committee's process.

Retired Supreme Court justices (including one from the Supreme Court of British Columbia) have confirmed that lawyers within Canada’s public service appropriately applied redactions to these documents without compromising national security, national defence and international relations.
The men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, who are serving our country in Afghanistan, put their lives on the line every day on our behalf.  They demonstrate tremendous professionalism as they conduct their work and we are proud of them.

The documents tabled demonstrate one thing: after 12 months and over 12 million of taxpayers’ dollars, no credible allegations against our men and women in uniform were found. The entire process was a waste of taxpayer dollars and there is nothing to be gained by spending millions more on this issue. 

The Opposition parties have sought to politicize this issue at every opportunity for their own gain. Government officials offered all Opposition MPs a briefing of the materials, ready to explain the process and results of the year taken and over $12 million of taxpayer's money spent. 

Except, despite the rhetoric, despite the attacks, despite the reckless slandering of our men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces by NDP and Liberal MPs, not a single NDP or Liberal MP bothered to show up. Only one independent MP attended. 

Their lack of interest in the face of the facts proves the Opposition are only interested in partisan attacks and bickering. They don't want the truth and should apologize to the Canadian Armed Forces.