Opinion

 

Dead End

I’m really not sure how I got there. It certainly was not in my plans. It sure seemed like the right road at the time. I was just driving along and crossed a street, and suddenly there it was – a dead end. 

Probably, subconsciously  anyway, I had seen the sign, “Dead End”, but it had not registered. I still had a ways to go, and this way certainly was going nowhere.

Coming to a stop, I had to think how it had happened. When had I turned off the road I should have been on? I had never been quite this way before. Where had I gone wrong?

Taking the turns that I had, seemed to be the only sensible way at the time, but obviously, I had missed the cues and gone my own way. Not yet owning a GPS or a Smartphone, I reached for the Mapquest directions and map lying on the seat beside me looking for a way back to the route I needed.

The Bible says in Proverbs 16:25 that: “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.”

No one ever plans to make a mess of their life. In fact, most of us begin life thinking that somehow we, along with the rest of our generation, will conquer the world. 

We never really see ourselves taking the “wrong” turns. Those turns just happen as we go along. Sometimes it is weeks, months, or years later, when we realize that the way we have chosen is a “dead end”. It is getting us nowhere fast and there is really no place left to go.

At all times it is good to look to the Author of Life to find the proper directions. He has given us a “Road Map” to help us stay on the right road. Too often we feel that we can handle life ourselves and lay His map on the seat of life for consultation when we become desperate. 

The Lord says, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea” [Isaiah 48:17-18]. 

The good thing is that God’s road map is always available for consultation to bring us back to the road of life.

Doing an about turn, I retraced my route until I found myself back on the right road. With a great sense of relief, I confidently drove straight to my planned destination.

Where is your life taking you? Hopefully you are planning your destination well and enjoying the journey there.

[…]

I am firm believer that some of our government’s proudest accomplishments have been providing financial support and tax relief to Canadian seniors who have built our great country. 

Whether it has been actions like pension splitting for seniors or increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement, millions of seniors across Canada have seen a lower pension burden and more support from our government. 

Another key demographic of our country’s success is ensuring the strength and financial viability of Canadian families. And I’m really proud of our government’s recent announcement of a package of tax cuts and increased benefits to make life more affordable for Canadian families. 

Here’s how families can put more money in their pockets in 2015:

1. The Family Tax Cut 

The new Family Tax Cut can lower a family’s overall tax bill by allowing a spouse to effectively transfer up to $50,000 of taxable income to a spouse in a lower tax bracket for federal tax purposes, providing tax relief up to a maximum of $2,000. 

This measure is aimed at couples with children under the age of 18, where one spouse is in a higher income tax bracket than the other.

For example, if one spouse earns $75,000 per year and the other earns $15,000, the higher- income earner could effectively transfer $30,000 to the lower-income spouse for federal tax purposes. 

This would reduce the amount of tax the couple pays by bringing the higher-income spouse into the lowest income tax bracket, resulting in the maximum tax savings of $2,000.

Couples can claim the Family Tax Cut on their 2014 tax returns. To benefit, each spouse must file a tax return, and either spouse may claim the credit.

2. The Universal Child Care Benefit

As part of its family-friendly measures, the Government is also proposing to enhance the Universal Child Care Benefit. 

Parents with children under the age of 6 would receive $160 per month, up from $100. 

In addition, parents with children aged 6 through 17 would receive $60 per month. 

These changes will take effect on January 1, 2015 and be reflected in monthly payments to recipients beginning in July 2015, pending approval of the necessary legislation. The July 2015 payments would include six months of benefits to cover the January to June 2015 period. 

Parents already receiving payments for children under the age of 6 will automatically receive higher monthly benefits, starting in July 2015. 

The July 2015 payment will include up to six months of benefits to cover the January to June 2015 period. 

Parents eligible for the new benefit, for children aged 6 through 17 will begin receiving $60 per month for each eligible child, starting in July 2015. The July 2015 payment will include six months of benefits to cover the January to June 2015 period. 

How do parents qualify? By completing the Canada Child Benefits Application form. Parents who have already completed this form to access other child-related benefits do not have to resubmit the form unless their family situation has changed. 

3. The Child Care Expense Deduction

Parents incurring child care expenses to go to work or school can deduct child care expenses from their income when filing their tax returns. 

Starting in the 2015 taxation year, the Government has proposed that the maximum dollar amount that can be claimed each year increase by $1,000. The new maximum dollar limits would be:

• $8,000 per child under age 7;

• $5,000 per child aged 7 to 16 (and for infirm dependent children over age 16); and

• $11,000 for children who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. 

4. The Children’s Fitness Tax Credit

If parents have kids enrolled in sports, they can now claim expenses of up to $1,000 per year for each eligible child. That’s double what they could have claimed previously. 

Parents can take advantage of the new $1,000 limit when they file their tax returns for 2014.

Starting in 2015, the credit will become refundable, which means that families with incomes too low to be taxable will also benefit when they file their 2015 tax returns. 

Our government understands the importance of strong Canadian families. If constituents would like more information, my staff and I are available to assist you at 1-888-805-2513 or info@guylauzon.ca.

[…]

Where Do Your Federal Tax Dollars Go?

Constituents often ask me various questions about federal government finances. 

How much does the federal government spend each year? Where does the money go? 

I thought this week I would try and supply you with an insight into how your tax dollars are spent. While it can be difficult to summarize and explain in a brief article, here is a quick overview of the expenses.

For the last fiscal year, Canada’s federal government spent $276.8 billion from a variety of revenue sources. That represents roughly 15% of our country’s $1.9-trillion economy.

Transfers payments, which are federal funds that go directly to persons, to provincial governments, and to other organizations, are the largest category of government spending. They compose about 61 cents of each tax dollar spent ($169.4 billion).

Major transfers to individual Canadians cost 26 cents of each tax dollar spent ($72.2 billion). The biggest category in this line item was elderly benefits, which cost about $41.8 billion, or roughly 15 cents of each tax dollar spent. These transfers include Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement, and the Allowance for Spouses.

Another major transfer to persons is Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. Altogether, EI benefits cost over 6 cents of every tax dollar spent ($17.3 billion). 

The final major types of personal transfers are child benefits. The federal government provided $13.1 billion to help families raise their children through the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the Universal Child Care Benefit. These payments cost almost 5 cents of every tax dollar spent.

 Major transfers to provincial and local governments totalled $60.5 billion, or 22 cents of each tax dollar spent. These transfers help fund health care, post-secondary education, and other vital programs for Canadians.

The Canada Health Transfer provided $30.5 billion for health programs, representing about 11 cents of each tax dollar spent.

The Canada Social Transfer provided $12.2 billion for post-secondary education, social programs and programs for children, representing close to 5 cents of each tax dollar spent.

Other major transfers, including provincial equalization programs and our Gas Tax Fund program to municipalities, totalled roughly 6 cents of every tax dollar spent ($17.7 billion).

The items listed above account for approximately 70% of the federal government’s annual expenditures. If you are interested in knowing where the additional 30% is spent, please visit ‎my website www.guylauzon.ca for all the information anytime.

[…]

While celebrating the start of the New Year, many Canadians take the time to set some New Years Resolutions. Many of those resolutions focus on eating healthier, exercising more, or perhaps cutting back on some bad habits. That’s why I thought it would be timely to discuss the topic of health care in Canada.

Health care is one of the topics that my constituents consistently identify as a key priority. It affects everyone, either themselves directly or a ‎family member. 

Every time I send out questionnaires on issues that are most important to constituents, health care is in the top three. Each and everyone of us has had to use the health care system at one time or another. 

Generally speaking, Canada’s health care system is one of the best in the world. I am quick to acknowledge that our system is not perfect; sometimes constituents feel they deserve better service, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

To clarify our political structure, the federal government does not directly operate and direct the expenditures of health care services. That is the role of our elected provincial governments. In our case, the Ontario government at Queen’s Park is responsible for organizing our hospitals and long-term care homes, among many other front line health care services.

In addition to national health research and having the lead on international health prevention programs, the federal government still plays a very important role in health care by providing billions of dollars each year in transfer payments to provincial governments for health and social services. 

Those receiving less than perfect service when they go to a hospital or to a doctor often believe that the poor service is due to lack of funding. I can assure you this is not the case with the federal government’s funding model. When we compare the funds invested in health care by our federal government here in Canada to other countries, it is evident there is solid financial support for the system to provide top quality care.

In 2015-16, the Government of Ontario will receive $20.4 billion through major transfers– an increase of $9.6 billion from 2005-06. Yes, you read that right: over $20 billion dollars is given to the Ontario government each year by the federal government to assist with health and social programs. And it is growing more each and every year going forward.

Comparatively, it is alarming to see how little investment is made in health care in some countries. I recently came across statistics from the World Bank that confirm this argument. It is shocking to note that the annual health care spending (in US dollars) per capita in Gambia is $26. Here are some other examples: 

Kenya spends $45

India $61

China $322 

South Africa $645 

Lebanon $675. 

Among G-7 countries: 

Italy $3,032

United Kingdom $3,647, 

Germany $4,683

France $4,690

and the United States spends $8,895 in their private, insurance-based health care system. 

In comparison, Canada spends $5,741 on our public universal health care system for every Canadian man, woman, and child.

I believe we are fortunate here in Canada when it comes to health care services. Locally in SDSG, we have two state of the art hospitals, great doctors and nurses, and a dedicated sector of health care workers ready to look after our needs. 

As your federal Member of Parliament, I will continue to ensure that we increase our financial transfers to provincial governments each and every year to maintain and provide good quality health care to you and your family. 

Last but not least, good luck with your New Years Resolutions!

[…]

 

Singing a New Song…

Well, my friends, as many of you know I have retired. My ministry with the Parish of Morrisburg, Iroquois and Riverside Heights came to an end on December 28th, 2014. Now it’s time to prepare for what God has in store for me next.

On the first Sunday after Christmas in our church the Gospel reading told of Mary and Joseph taking their infant son to the Temple for presentation according to their custom.

Two significant figures were there in the Temple at the time – Simeon and Anna. When each met the family, both offered a song to God; Simeon a song of departure and Anna a song of praise and thanksgiving.

Music, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to express ourselves. It can tell stories of joy. It can tell stories of sadness. Music can set our imaginations and hearts free in ways that words alone cannot. Needless to say, singing is one of my favourite things to do.

The music that has been my ministry with the people of the Parish and the community of South Dundas has for the most part been sweet. There have been the odd sour notes or the odd time when things were a tad off key – that’s normal in any unrehearsed musical composition. But the music always had God as director. 

Today, I begin singing a new song. The other voices that join in will be different. Who knows, the tune might be different and the words the same or vise versa – or both could be entirely different. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that God is still the director.

Thank you to all of you who have been faithful readers of this column of Perspectives. Thank you to the editorial staff at the Leader for your patience with an amateur writer. May God continue to bless you richly in 2015.

Cheers, Rev. Sue McCullough

 

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Cancer at Christmas

Years ago I read a Christmas story that both broke my heart and blessed it. It was about a three year old boy named Cameron, who discovered six weeks before Christmas that he had cancer in his brain. He had it before, but eighteen months earlier the doctors operated and were confident that they had removed it all. Now it was back.

Since the doctors didn’t want to try another surgery, it meant their only option was radiation.

For six weeks dear mom took him for his treatment. The little guy became weaker and slowly started to lose his hair. Christmas hardly seemed like Christmas that year. 

Each day on the way into the hospital little Cameron begged to see a Santa they drove by, but mom was far too busy and stressed to bother. Finally one day Cameron nagged to see the guy more than usual, so mom agreed to make a visit to the mall to see the Santa there.

He jumped up all excited to sit beside Santa on his sleigh when it was finally his turn to talk to him. Santa asked about the hair loss and his mother called over that he was going through radiation for a brain tumour. 

At that point Santa did something rather unexpected. He called mom over and asked that she come join them on the sleigh. And he asked if he could pray for them.

“You know,” he said, “that after the doctors have done all they can with their technology, the ultimate healing is up to the Lord.” He added that he himself had a serious brain problem and was healed. So with a crowd gathering and wondering what was going on, he prayed for healing for little Cameron.

I don’t know how Cameron is doing today, but the last I read, he carried on for years not entirely cancer free, but able to live a full and happy life.

That story puts Christmas in perspective for me. All our usual Christmas festivities and traditions are great. It’s fun to enjoy Santa and presents and all of those kind of things. But as happy as all this can make us, it doesn’t really meet our deepest needs, nor address our most urgent concerns. It has no answer for cancer, or violence, or death.

For the serious problems of life we need what that Santa in the story pointed to. We need the one who in love came to our world to be born in Bethlehem’s stable. The one who one day would die for the sins of the world that we could be saved and reconciled to God.

I wish you all a wonder-filled Christmas. Good times with family and friends. Feasting and festivities. Reaching out to those in need or lonely. 

But I especially hope that we realize our need of the one whose birthday we are called to celebrate: Jesus. For the really big stuff in life, only he has the answer. He is the answer. Turn to him, trust in him. And you’ll have the best Christmas ever.

[…]

 

The Christmas Story

The scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is God, who came to earth as a man to make full provision for our eternal salvation. (John 1:1>14; 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7)

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14 

This prophetic utterance by Isaiah, was spoken some 735 years before the birth of Christ. 

In the historical narrative, the virgins conception and bearing of a Son, is a sign of both impending judgment and the provision of salvation. Judgment for the unbeliever, and salvation for the believer. (Isaiah 7)

Immanuel, the prophetic name of this Son who will be born of a virgin, means “with us is God.” This Son is more than just a man, He is the Christ. He will possess the full nature of man; also possessing the full, unmingled, nature of God. (2 Peter 1:1b)

The Holy Spirit was responsible for Mary’s pregnancy. He created and placed an original seed in Mary’s womb. Therefore the Scripture records that, “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit,” and “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18, 20)

The child to be born, will be a special Son; the Son of God; the only begotten Son being born to die a horrific and unjust death, to “save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21; John 3:16; Hebrews 10:5-10)

In Christ, God has subjected Himself to the human experience. According to Philippians 2:7,8, when coming into the world, Jesus “made Himself of no reputation;” kenoo Heautou, meaning that He “emptied himself,” that He divested Himself of His rightful dignity and privilege as God, subjecting Himself to the human condition.

He did not empty Himself of His essence as God; but He did set aside at least three aspects of the dignity and privilege He had eternally enjoyed as God. 

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. – 2  Corinthians 8:9

•Jesus, coming into the world, set aside His divine glory. (John 17:5) The glory He demonstrated in His earthly life is the glory of Original Righteousness, like that which Adam enjoyed before sin, and like the glory to be restored to man by Jesus’ victory over sin. (Hebrews 2:10) 

•Jesus, coming into the world, set aside the independent authority He had the right to as God. Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane demonstrates His perfect submission to the will of another; i.e. God the Father. (Matthew 26:39; see also, John 5:30; 15:10)

•Jesus in coming into the world set aside His inability to be tempted by evil, or to suffer certain external results of Adam’s sin. Scripture clearly reveals God’s inability to be tempted by evil (James 1:13); but it also reveals that Jesus, in His human nature was tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15) 

The Christmas story is much more than the circumstances of Jesus’ birth; it is the beginning of the great climax of history, and the confirmation of the purpose of creation. 

May your heart rise above the normal activities of the Christmas season to embrace the eternal significance of the coming of Immanuel; God with us; Jesus the Christ. 

[…]

 

Preparing for Christmas

Well here we are just fifteen days until Christmas. Something that I first heard about a couple of years ago is happening again all over the country. You know, the Elf has appeared again and children are aware or at least they believe that he is watching their every move so they are on their best behaviour.  They don’t want a bad report going back to Santa.

Wherever you go, you see great displays of decorations and hear Christmas carols being played. Almost makes me want to break out into singing, “It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”  

Christmas has become such a busy time, such a time of anxiety for many.  There’s the latest gift or game to be found and purchased.  Indeed there’s the stress of finding the money so that it’s possible to purchase that right gift.  

Christmas is an exciting time for sure.  But, how much of the real reality of Christmas do we experience in all of what Christmas has come to mean.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I love Christmas. I love being with my family. I love watching them open gifts on Christmas morning.  

I also love getting gifts from my children, grandchildren, and my wife. I know there has been real thought put into what they get me for Christmas.

However, may I help us to stop our hustle and bustle just for a moment or two and consider what Christmas is really all about.  

One of my favorite Christmas carols is, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”  You’ve probably heard it in some store as you have looked for gifts for your loved ones in recent days. 

Please allow me to quote some of the words of this carol that was written by Charles Wesley, back in the 1730’s.  

“Hark the Herald Angels sing, Glory to the new born King, Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”  Another stanza says, “Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace.” 

Now I realize we don’t talk much like they did when this was first written, but the message of the carol is unchanged and very applicable for even our day. Please allow me to give a simple overview of that message. 

Man became separated from God because of disobedience to God, that disobedience is called sin and The Bible, God’s Word, tells us that sin and God cannot be in fellowship together. So man had a problem that he was incapable of solving on his own.

Thankfully even though we had rebelled against God, He still loved us. God is all knowing. He knew we would reject His plan for our lives and He had a plan already in place to help us. 

That’s what Christmas is all about, God sending His Son into the world so that He would pay the penalty for our sins and make it possible for us to be brought back into a right relationship with God.  

Christmas is all about the gift of love, mercy, grace and peace that God gave us, that we could live in hope. 

In all the hustle and bustle we experience, I want you to know that you can be at peace, that’s God’s will for you. Remember “ God and sinners reconciled”. 

This year as you do your best to get that perfect gift for your loved ones, don’t forget to receive the Perfect gift of God’s Son, whom He gave so that you could live forever.

John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  

[…]

One of the legacies of the former Liberal Government we inherited when forming Government in 2006 was the infamous and wasteful ‘long gun registry’. On numerous occasions between 2006 and 2011, we tried to eliminate this horrible legislation. However, because we had a minority Government, the Opposition parties blocked us from doing so. I am happy to report our Government has not only scrapped the long gun registry, but we have now introduced legislation to bring common sense to our firearms licensing regime.

The Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act will build on the significant action we have already taken to combat the criminal use of firearms and ensure a strong licensing system. It also continues our balanced approach- one that is helping us protect the safety of Canadians, while at the same time, reducing the administrative burden for law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport shooters.

First, we are proposing changes to the licensing system to:

• Streamline the licensing system by eliminating the Possession Only Licence and convert all such existing licences to Possession and Acquisition Licences

• Allow licence holders to retain lawful possession of their firearms, up to a period of six months beyond the expiry date on their licence, without the possibility of criminal sanctions for simply possessing their firearms

• Make classroom participation in firearms safety training mandatory

• Make important changes to the Authorizations to Transport when engaged in the routine transport of firearms.

These are common-sense improvements to the licensing system that will provide additional clarity to law-abiding firearms owners — all the while protecting the safety of Canadians.

This proposed legislation would also amend the Criminal Code to ensure that the property rights of lawful firearms owners are protected. To this end, we would amend the Criminal Code so that it contains a definition of non-restricted firearms, which it currently does not.  Moreover, we propose to give the Governor in Council the ability to make firearms non-restricted or restricted, in appropriate circumstances. We anticipate this authority being used in limited circumstances, such as if firearms are reclassified to be restricted or prohibited. 

This Bill also proposes important changes to the broader firearms controls regime. It would allow for improved information-sharing between the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP with respect to the commercial importation of restricted and prohibited firearms into Canada. It would also clarify that the discretionary authority granted to Chief Firearms Officers under the Firearms Act can be limited by regulation. This will help ensure, as appropriate and as needed, that the firearms program is applied fairly across the country.

And finally, consistent with our Government’s strong commitment to support families and stand up for victims of crime, we have also proposed a meaningful change that will allow us to better protect victims of domestic violence.

Specifically, this Bill would amend the Criminal Code to strengthen the provisions prohibiting the possession of weapons, including firearms, when a person is sentenced for an offence involving domestic violence. In this way, we can ensure that the firearms regime is actually targeting those we need to target in the name of public safety – those who have demonstrated that they pose a threat to society, particularly aimed at women and children in their homes.

I believe that the measures proposed in this Bill are common-sense and balanced. Moreover, they will enable us to better protect public safety and, at the same time, alleviate administrative burdens on law-abiding gun owners across the country.

[…]

 

Waiting in Anticipation

The snow is falling outside as I write this and I can’t help but think about the excitement that must be stirring in children everywhere. 

I noticed one little girl out for a walk with her grandma and grandpa that was all bundled up in her snow suit. She couldn’t wait for there to be more snow so that she could play in it. 

I remember being her age and playing in the snow with my siblings. Every year I would be so excited when the first snowfall came bringing with it the prospect of that year’s very first snowman. 

There was an overwhelming sense of happiness when I would look out the window in the morning and there was a light covering of sparkling snow on the ground. It was something I always looked forward to. 

As the weather got colder and more snow began to fall, the feeling of anticipation for Christmas grew stronger. Christmas is a time of buying gifts, decorating trees and putting up lights. It is also the time when we remember Jesus coming to earth as a little baby in Bethlehem. Bringing with him peace, hope and promise that can be felt every day and seen in each fresh snowfall. 

Every family has their own Christmas traditions of giving gifts, turkey dinners, or traveling to visit family. Whatever the tradition is for you, if you don’t have a church family, we invite you to join us for our Christmas Eve Service as we celebrate the birth of Jesus together. 

[…]