Blog

Edmonton’s been hit by a deep freeze with an extreme cold warning in effect. The weather forecast has this frigid weather lasting most of the week too.

Fortunately, as the mercury drops we have a readily available made-in-Canada solution.  

Here in Canada, we have our good, clean and ethical oil and gas industry so we can heat our homes when these bone-chilling temperatures take place.

The oil and gas industry not only heats our homes, it powers our country, provides thousands of well-paying jobs and contributes billions of dollars of revenue that helps pay for essential services.

It’s a win-win! 

So a big thanks to the men and women who are keeping us warm during this deep freeze. 

Federal NDP and Liberals voted to keep Alberta oil landlocked

Next time an Albertan says they’re considering voting for Jagmeet Singh and the federal NDP remind them that this party (that’s keeping the Liberal minority government in power) doesn’t support Alberta’s energy industry — an industry that’s keeping our homes toasty warm during this deep freeze.

Trudeau is failing to get vaccines

My letter to the editor in the Toronto Sun about the mounting failures on COVID-19 of Canada’s Liberal government. 

Pastor in our riding says Liberal bill is offside

By REV. RAY BAILLIE
Guest Opinion Column

Bill C-6 is concerning to many faith leaders and communities, due to its sweeping scope covering all sorts of private and personal, as well as public communications regarding matters of human sexuality.

Even a short conversation at Tim Hortons will tell you there are diverse opinions on these matters, yet politicians have as of late joined in a lemming-like march towards ‘groupthink,’ where one particular dogma is chosen and all dissenters, no matter how nuanced or thoughtful, are simply extinguished.

Most of the practices mentioned as conversion therapy in the past, have been extreme and abusive and have long been abandoned.  Coercive or involuntary efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity have no place in our communities.

Bill C-6 goes far beyond these straightforward directives.

(Read the full column by Rev. Ray Baillie at the link below.)

Ray Baillie is Pastor at New Destiny Church, located in Edmonton’s inner city, and currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer to the Edmonton Area Ministerial Association, a fellowship of area Evangelical Churches. 

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any policy or position of MP Diotte.

Government action benefits from public accountability

Whether from the official opposition or an independent press, we need to hold the government accountable and push for the best solutions for our country.

Here’s a video of me questioning scholars on public accountability in a parliamentary committee. 

In the news

• Trudeau dismisses Canadians’ concerns over vaccines as “noise” and “anxiety.” Link
• Alberta takes aim at Trudeau’s botched vaccine plan. Link
• Trudeau turns to the equivalent of the vaccine food bank. Link
• Why did Trudeau trust China on vaccines? Link
• Premiers blast Trudeau on vaccines as PM calls for calm. Link
• Senior Liberal staffers discussed withholding details about COVID-19 response: Internal emails. Link
• This is the worst Canadian government ever. Can there be any question? Link
• Canada must retaliate over Biden’s ill-considered Keystone decision. Link
• Are you ready for the climate lockdowns? It’s only a matter of time. Link
• UBC professor doxes students for leaving her class and calls them ‘racist’. Link
• The Holier-Than-Thou Crusade in San Francisco. Link
• Don’t show a photo of David Suzuki: How WE Charity tried to keep its donors happy. Link
• Don’t negotiate with Iran — it tried to kill me in 2018. Link
• ‘Their goal is to destroy everyone’: Uighur camp detainees allege systematic rape. Link
• No Payette Payout. Link

You said it

• “Let’s hope CANADA remembers this at election time. The Trudeau government has been a dismal failure and it’s costing lives. CANADA deserves better than his continual denial and lies!” —  Al N.
• “We may have been better off when Stephen Harper was the prime minister and Canada was a respected country. Not so much since 2015.” — John K.

Last week’s straw poll results 

In my last e-newsletter, I asked folks what they thought of the Trudeau government’s vaccine procurement compared to the rest of the world.

A large majority of 93% said the Liberals’ weren’t delivering. 

A big thanks to everyone who took part.

Have your say

Faith leaders and others have serious concerns about the Liberals’ Bill C-6 that deals with conversion therapy. They feel it could interfere with religious freedoms. Do you support the bill or oppose it? 

Have your say in my new unofficial poll. I’ll publish the results in next week’s e-newsletter. 

Latest news on COVID-19 

You can find up-to-date information from Alberta Public Health or the Public Health Agency of Canada. 

Alberta Public Health can also be reached by phone at 811.

Benefits available for Canadians

There are programs available to help you and your family during this COVID pandemic. 

Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend 

You can share it here.

If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.

Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.

I want to hear from you 

I’m always eager to hear from you. Do you have beefs? Bouquets? Suggestions?

Drop me a note at my e-mail address.

Please note our local Edmonton constituency office is currently still open to serve you but it’s by appointment only. We simply ask that you call ahead to book an appointment.

Call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to serve you.

Thanks so much. Stay healthy!

E-mail:
[email protected]

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

Mail (postage free): 
Kerry Diotte, MP 
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

By REV. RAY BAILLIE
Guest Opinion Column

Bill C-6 is concerning to many faith leaders and communities, due to its sweeping scope covering all sorts of private and personal, as well as public communications regarding matters of human sexuality.

Even a short conversation at Tim Hortons will tell you there are diverse opinions on these matters, yet politicians have as of late joined in a lemming-like march towards ‘groupthink,’ where one particular dogma is chosen and all dissenters, no matter how nuanced or thoughtful, are simply extinguished.

Most of the practices mentioned as conversion therapy in the past, have been extreme and abusive and have long been abandoned.  Coercive or involuntary efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity have no place in our communities.

Bill C-6 goes far beyond these straightforward directives.

In C-6 we see the potential criminalization of conversations between professionals, faith leaders and even parents when speaking to young people about a faith and morals based understanding of ethics, sexuality, gender, identity and belonging.

Conversion therapy is defined as: “a practice, treatment or service designed to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual, to change a person’s gender identity or gender expression to cisgender or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour, or non-cisgender gender expression. For greater certainty, this definition does not include a practice, treatment or service that relates to the exploration and development of an integrated personal identity without favouring any particular sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”

The wording of the bill in itself suggests a severe moral preference on the part of the law, allowing therapy that goes in one chosen direction, and rejecting the alternates outright.  Whereas Pierre Trudeau stated that “government has no place in the bedrooms of the nation” the current bill seeks to make government the arbiter of who can influence the bedrooms of the nation and what can be preached in the pulpit or discussed in the private homes of the nation. Persons who desire assistance to modify their behaviour or inclinations in one direction – towards heterosexuality (or celibacy), are denied services based on the inherent prejudice of the law.

This law forbids conversion therapy that would direct a person to a sexual expression in line with their biology, while it permits and empowers conversion therapy that would direct a person towards a sexual expression that is not in harmony with their biology, even to the point of surgical and hormonal interventions to their physiology, some of which are irreversible. It would also forbid interference with a child’s sense of gender dysphoria unless we are only ‘affirming’ their current feelings.

The bill includes the banning of any efforts and practices designed to repress or reduce sexual behaviour. The Justice Department in explanation said the legislation would not criminalize private conversations where professionals, faith leaders, or family members, provide support to persons struggling with their sexual orientation, sexual feelings, or gender identity. The Justice Minister is on record as saying that “What is covered by this legislation are practices that attempt to change one’s orientation towards a predefined goal.”

Would a sermon series or a Bible study or other programs on faith-centred sexual ethics be construed to fit the definition of a practice, treatment or service offering conversion therapy? And since the definition of conversion therapy includes reducing sexual behaviour; could teaching that encourages sexual abstinence or sexual expression only in the context of heterosexual marriage be considered as directing persons toward a “predefined goal”?  Bill C-6 tends to treat all these perspectives, other than the ones the bill prefers, as hate. C-6 is not a bill that seeks a greater democracy, or a legitimate mosaic of peoples with differing beliefs. Rather, it extinguishes all others by law, in order to favour its’ own choices, as uncertain and extreme as they may be.

Bill C-6 is based on certain presumptions, one of which is that Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity are an immutable reality as part of one’s overall personal identity.

Broad-based research has shown that this presupposition remains debatable. The largest study to date, released in 2019 on the genetics of same-sex behaviour, revealed no specific genetic marker that affected sexual orientation, but rather a multiplicity of factors. As polygenic traits can be strongly influenced by the environment, which would include culture, experience, family history, etc., simple logic (and likely your own experience) tells you that nurture and nature have a role not completely definable to play in all this.

Christian teaching addresses a simple yet profound truth; the human personality is bent towards sin and sinful practice, which is expressed in individual ways.  It also teaches that through repentance and faith in Christ, there is a higher power we can access that will help us to live according to God’s ways as defined in scripture, and which include the possibility of the conversion of our deepest internal feelings and identity.

Ray Baillie is Pastor at New Destiny Church, located in Edmonton’s inner city, and currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer to the Edmonton Area Ministerial Association, a fellowship of area Evangelical Churches. 

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect any policy or position of MP Diotte.

Let’s celebrate the important contributions Black Canadians have made and continue to make across Canada and here in Edmonton.

We need vaccines. Without a successful vaccine procurement, we can’t get back to normal.

Our lives will continue to be interrupted, businesses will suffer and peoples’ lives will be at risk.

That’s why it’s so disheartening to hear even more setbacks on Canada’s vaccine rollout.

Last week Pfizer provided no vaccines to Canada. 

This week both Pfizer and Moderna will be cutting back shipments of the vital vaccines. We’re on track to have a nearly two million vaccine shortfall this week.

The confusion we’re seeing is just another example of the Liberals’ failed plan. Throughout this entire process, the Liberals haven’t been transparent and open to Canadians.

As your Member of Parliament, I’ll continue to fight for answers and for Canadians to get vaccines, because we need a smooth and steady vaccine rollout to get Canada working again and to secure our future.

Let’s all stand up for oil and gas

Until most all reasonable Canadians realize the absolute necessity of our oil and gas energy industry the radicals on the left will continue to destroy it.

Our wealth and high standard of living is inextricably linked to this industry’s success.

Please share the story below with a person you know who doubts this.

We MUST all help them to understand.

Trudeau Liberals turn backs on Uyghurs and Muslim minorities

Justin Trudeau and his Liberals always talk about standing up for people but they refuse to condemn as “genocide” the treatment by Communist China of the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.

Recently I was proud to present an official petition in the House of Commons demanding Liberals wake up and take measures against the Communists for this genocide.

Read more on the grave situation in China:

Here’s a video of me presenting the petition: 

Let’s all complain when media errs

True North Centre for Public Policy is reporting a story that CTV has been forced to apologize after breaking journalism ethics standards in a report about then-president Donald Trump.

The apology came after a CTV viewer launched an official complaint. See story here:

Regardless of how you might feel about the ex-prez I hope you’ll agree our news media must be called out when they are irresponsible and break their own ethics codes as they did here.

Good on this CTV viewer for calling that network’s reporting into question.

It was ruled they did indeed break their own code of journalist ethics. It shows that every Canadian can have power if they choose to use it.

See a media report that’s irresponsible?

Complain to the top manager, to their industry associations and to the CRTC. Democracy deserves and demands fair and balance media.

Canada Summer Jobs application has been extended

Small businesses and not-for-profits can still apply for the Canada Summer Jobs program for 2021.

In the news

• Why take one government jet when three will do? Link
• An Open Letter To The Minister Of Justice And Attorney General Of Canada. Link
• Trudeau fails on vaccines. Link
• The cancel culture mob could come looking for you, too. Link
• China praises Canada, slams U.S. over coronavirus response. Link
• COVID vaccine solution was here in Calgary while Trudeau looked to China. Link
• Mi’kmaw leaders, city at odds over changes for Charlottetown’s John A. Macdonald statue. Link
• Trudeau’s Christmas vacation: Flight tracking gives supporting evidence for secret trip down south. Link
• Liberals hold virtual election readiness “2021 kick-off” meeting. Link
• For Trudeau, there’s no political reason to fight for Keystone XL. Link
• Heritage Minister says takedown rules coming, welcomes calls for new social-media regulator. Link
• Our leaders fretted about racism more than COVID-19. Link
• Who wants to defend Trudeau’s vaccine plan now? Link
• Canada should retaliate on Keystone by building its own new pipeline. Link

You said it

• “So listening to the news this morning and they are discussing 5 or 6 doses per bottle, pfizzer says one thing while the feds are saying something different, and also there was mention of medical organisations not counting the doses as two needed for a complete vaccination! In other words we are not being told the absolute truth, just partisan info to try and make the feds look like they are doing something other than being caught on vacation!” — Brett N.
• “Today, I am burning a commemorative candle for the young Hungarian boy Imre Rotember born in 1936 and murdered in Auschwitz in 1945. He is remembered in the Yad Vashem Museum.” — Simone D.
• “Now? How about march 31st 2020? That was the time to stop. But the liberals were so worried someone’s feeling might be hurt if they appeared to be “racist”, an accusation probably made by one of them or their supporters, that they decided that instead of appearing politically incorrect, it was better to put the lives of thousands of Canadians at risk….many who, may have died due to this in action. Note; virtue signaling can be fatal.” — Randy T.

Have your say

How do you think the Trudeau government is performing compared to the rest of the world when it comes to seeing enough vaccines delivered to Canadians so they can be quickly vaccinated? 

Have your say in my new unofficial poll. I’ll publish the results in next week’s e-newsletter. 

Latest news on COVID-19 

You can find up-to-date information from Alberta Public Health or the Public Health Agency of Canada. 

Alberta Public Health can also be reached by phone at 811.

Benefits available for Canadians

There are programs available to help you and your family during this COVID pandemic. 

Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend 

You can share it here.

If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.

Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.

I want to hear from you 

I’m always eager to hear from you. Do you have beefs? Bouquets? Suggestions?

Drop me a note at my e-mail address.

Please note our local Edmonton constituency office is currently still open to serve you but it’s by appointment only. We simply ask that you call ahead to book an appointment.

Call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to serve you.

Thanks so much. Stay healthy!

E-mail:
[email protected]

Phone:
(780) 495-3261

Mail (postage free): 
Kerry Diotte, MP 
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6