Complete Canada-EU Text Reached

August 13, 2014 Editor Opinion

Our Government believes one of ways we can grow our economy and create jobs is by expanding our international exports through trade agreements. After many years and a great amount of effort Canada, with the unanimous endorsement of all provinces and territories, reached a historic agreement in principle on a free trade agreement with the European Union last October. Last Tuesday, Canada and the European Union announced that officials have reached a complete text, allowing translation and final legal review to commence. 

 

This lays the groundwork for a September Canada-EU Summit that will be hosted in Canada. Last week it was also announced that Prime Minister Harper and Minister Fast will lead a trade mission to the United Kingdom in early September to secure the jobs and first-mover competitive advantages the historic Canada-EU trade agreement creates.

 

This is another important step toward the implementation of the historic Canada-EU trade agreement, which will create jobs and economic opportunities for hard-working Canadians in every region of the country including right here in Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.

 

As per their involvement throughout the process, Canada’s provinces and territories have received the complete text and have been comprehensively briefed on its content as well as on next steps. 

 

The EU is the world’s largest integrated economy, with more than 500 million consumers and a GDP of $17 trillion. Out of more than 9,000 EU tariff lines, approximately 98 per cent will be duty-free for Canadian goods when the Canada-EU trade pact comes into force. A joint study concluded that the trade agreement with the European Union would be of significant benefit to Canada, resulting in a 20 per cent boost in bilateral trade and a $12-billion increase in Canada’s annual income (GDP), the equivalent to creating almost 80,000 new jobs or increasing the average Canadian household’s annual income by $1,000. 

 

Our upcoming UK trade mission will help Canadian businesses secure their first-mover advantages in the largest and most lucrative market in the world, even as translation and final legal review of the text proceeds. 

 

I am very proud of the Prime Minister and Minister of International Trade for their extensive work on this trade deal, which will have a huge impact on Canada's economy for decades to come.

 

Guy Lauzon

Member of Parliament

Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry

 

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April 9, 2014 Editor Opinion

 

Who Needs Theology

How can a Christian be in pursuit of the blessing of God and have no concern for an accurate Theology (i.e. an accurate knowledge of God, and His creation)? 

How can we confirm our intelligence, while rejecting that knowledge which begins with the reverence of God? (Proverbs 1:7) 

And how do we revere Him whom we do not know? 

Does not the measure of our ignorance of God, set a limit on our reverence towards Him; and is not our reverence of God excited by our knowledge of Him?

By practically rejecting the idea that we can know our Lord more perfectly (not just as individuals but as a faith community), do we claim a perfect knowledge of the Divine Being, or that there is no more that can be known of Him than what we already know? 

Or are we just slothful, not wanting to stress the soul with any more mind renewing information? (Romans 12:2)

We understand from the teachings of Jesus, that our Heavenly Father is seeking those that worship Him in spirit and truth. Spirit then is not sufficient by itself for the kind of worshipers the Father seeks, but in worship spirit must be accompanied by truth. 

Worship should be the spiritual application of our Theology (i.e. of what we believe about God). (John 4:23-24)

In the gospel narratives Jesus is continually affirming His spiritual superiority in terms of His knowledge of the Father (i.e. His Theology Proper). (Matthew 11:27; John 1:18)

It is clear throughout scripture that God Himself defines that worship which is acceptable to Him. Our worship of God is in no way left to the designs of men. 

Man’s failure in this is recorded in scripture from Genesis to Revelation, and always with tragic results. I further submit to you the idea that the perfection of the Church will be a perfection in worship by means of a more perfect knowledge of God. (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:2)

So by what spirit do we loath Theology? And without a right and growing knowledge of God, in what manner do we experience increase in the nature of our worship?

Any revival in our time must not only be Spirit filled, but Truth filled as well. And if we pursue increase in manifestations of the Spirit, we must seek increase in the manifestation of Truth, because it is the Truth that the Spirit of Christ confirms with the accompanying signs. (Mark 16:20) But then, who has a heart for such things?

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Watch your speed

November 23, 2011 Editor Opinion

I’ve been accused of being “heavy-footed” when it comes to the gas pedal in my trusty little car. 

After all, it’s so very easy to let that speedometer needle creep up, to come to that perfect rolling stop at a rural sign, to convince yourself that arriving at your destination 4.5 seconds sooner really justifies that extra 20 kph over the limit. 

I’ve never received a ticket; I may have deserved one.

If you are an habitual speeder, however, you’d be advised to rethink that habit next time you travel through Williamsburg on County Road 31. Apparently, according to OPP Constable Lalonde ( the Standard-Freeholder, Nov. 11, 2011) Williamsburg has one of the highest rates of speeding in SD&G. A recent traffic survey indicates that the “prevailing speed through Williamsburg is between 60-70 kph even though the (clearly posted) maximum speed is 50 kph.” 

This is dangerous and reckless driving in the heart of a small town and it has to stop.

That is the view of the County Roads Department, the OPP, the Township of South Dundas and a number of community members. It is also the view of the council for the United Counties of SD&G.       

The council has decided to establish its first Community Safety Zone on County Road 31. Under the Highway Traffic Act, this designation allows the OPP to double the fines for anyone, day or night, 365 days a year, who speeds through the community of Williamsburg.  It means that going 20 kph over the speed limit will result in a fine, not of $95, as it currently is, but rather of $180. The higher your speed, the more the fine doubles. 

The Safety Zone designation comes into effect the moment new signs indicating the change are put in place; within three weeks according to the council press release. 

The highway is very close to homes in Williamsburg; there are hard to see intersections cutting across the road (despite flashing lights); pedestrians are difficult to spot at all times.

So slow down. Speeding in Williamsburg won’t be cheap.

[…]

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