Editorial: So what’s your issue?

September 5, 2019 Editor Opinion

In less than two months, voters across Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, and the country, will head to the ballot box to decide the course of the next four years for Canada.

Over the upcoming campaign, political parties and their leaders will inundate voters with carefully-crafted national messages to lure you to vote for them. Locally, each party candidate will toe the party line, but should also address issues here in SDSG. However what are those key issues? What issues are important to you?

Four years with our Member of Parliament in the Opposition has resulted in less government funding for projects in this riding. Funding from the federal government for the Morrisburg Street-Scape project is still awaiting approval here: it has already been approved by the province. Electing an MP who’s a member of the governing party could be the best way to cast your vote. The dilemma is – do you vote for a candidate, or for a party?

Perhaps a particular issue is of more importance to you like health care funding and a pharmacare strategy. Perhaps you worry about the perils of climate change.

Canada’s financial situation is uncertain with rising debt and a higher than promised annual deficit. Is keeping our financial house in order important to you?

Integrity in government is another issue that is battered about by the pundits: specifically SNC Lavelin and the resignations of two female cabinet ministers of the Trudeau government. But do you like other party leaders’ views on a number of social issues?

Are you happy with the choices you face on the ballot?

That’s a lot of questions. But consider. Maybe that’s the point of an election. Citizens need to ask and the politicians need to answer, and to be held to account. An election is best held when the electorate is informed. The two months ahead is the time to ask questions – because you may not get to ask them again for four years.

If a candidate knocks on your door this election season, what is your issue? Ask away, and really listen to hear the response. Remember that the bottom-line consequence of an uninformed electorate, is you get the government that you deserve.

Perhaps our southern neighbours have learned that lesson all-too-well.

Since you’re here…

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Perspectives with Rev. James Tripp

June 5, 2013 Editor Opinion

 

Welcome Home

If you’ve ever been away somewhere for a long time and come home, you will know what it’s like to have that “Ahh… I’m finally home!” feeling. 

I really enjoy getting away with Sarah, and it’s always nice to visit somewhere different. We have taken different holidays over the years and visited a number of places. Sometimes places that actually aren’t far away at all, but it always feels good to get home.

It was about eight years ago now that we were talking about getting a pet, and a short time later we came home with a little puppy named “Molly”. That puppy grew into a full sized dog. Who would have guessed that was going to happen? 

The joys of that dog besides the walks, picking up the left behinds and finding piles of golden retriever fur everywhere, is that we have a great family friend. 

It didn’t take us long to discover that Molly loved to have us home, and hated to see us leave. When we would leave the house she would sit by the door and wait for our return. 

Naturally, over the years she got used to the idea that if we left, we would soon return. The assurance Molly felt allowed her to live out her day, and do whatever dogs do while everyone is away. 

When we would return from either a day away at work, or even a vacation over a number of days, the response from Molly was always, and has always been the same. She would rush from whatever part of the house she was in, and greet us at the door with her tail wagging her whole body.  You don’t think twice about that greeting, until it doesn’t happen. 

There is something wonderful about being greeted when you arrive at a place and are made feel welcome. 

Sarah and I are thrilled to make our new home in Iroquois.  It didn’t take long for our neighbors to come and give us a warm welcome to our new community. 

Sarah and I have also been blessed by the kindness and love shared by our new church family at Morrisburg Pentecostal Tabernacle (M.P.T.). 

I’d like to extend a warm welcome to you to come and visit us on a Sunday morning. When you arrive, I’m sure you’ll be made feel right at home. 

Rev. James Tripp

Morrisburg Pentecostal 

Tabernacle

 

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My Mission Trip to Africa

November 16, 2011 Editor Opinion

 

My wife and I have just returned from a Missions trip to Malawi and Kenya in Africa.

According to statistics that were given to us on the plane as we flew, we were some 9,000 miles away from home, approximately. We discovered just how significant that was when we arrived back home in Canada having to adjust to a seven hour time difference.

However, that adjustment was minor to our having to deal with what we experienced.

I want you to know, I’ve seen television programs that show the poverty and the hungry children, and for most of my life I’ve been exposed to missionaries who have been there. I’ve heard their stories and have seen their slide shows, but I was not prepared for the real thing.

I think what got me the most is how very little most of the people there have, and yet, how very pleasant they are. I ate some of the food that most of them depend on for their survival. Day after day, it’s the same bland diet.

I realize that I have far too many choices, but I am real thankful that I have a better choice than that.

In Kenya, I was privileged to attend a school in the slums where the children get one meal a day, a mixture of beans, corn and rice if it is available. However, because of cutbacks of support from Canada, that meal is now only served on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. As far as can be known, these children have little or nothing to eat on Thursdays, Friday, Saturdays and Sundays.

I have to tell you, I wept when I heard that.

These kids, by the way, are as smart as any of our children. They are getting a good education, and good Biblical foundation as well. These children are the hope for the future of their countries.

Out of the worst possible conditions, God is raising up young people whose lives are being changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Malawi, I was privileged to work in a community that has been built, and funded still, by Canadians. There are 66 orphans being cared for there by women who have lost their husbands to death, one way or another.

James 1:27 says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father, is this, to care for widows and orphans in their trouble.”

This is the model that the “Village of Hope” is built on.

I, along with four other men from Canada, and Stephen from Malawi, prepared another home to be occupied, in the near future, by more children and another widow. I can tell you, it was difficult to work in 39 and 40 degree heat, but it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever been involved in.

I want to finish this today with a heartfelt ‘Thank you’ to all who made it possible for us to go there, and for the financial support we received that enabled us to provide school supplies, paint and money to furnish this new house so that the orphans, who otherwise would have no hope, can now be cared for, loved and educated and, I believe, make a difference in Malawi.

Malawi is called “The Warm Heart of Africa” and without a doubt that is true. But they need Help. The kind of help many of you gave to me to take to them. I can tell you, God knows who you are and He will bless you.

 

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