Nov 12
12
To understand the full implications of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on Canada’s Christian foundation, order your copy of Leaving God Behind from ChristianGovernance.
~ ~ ~
CHP Communiqué – Vol 19, No 45 * Nov. 6, 2012
Oligarchy
By Jim Hnatiuk, Leader of the Christian Heritage Party
Oligarchy: An oligarchy exists when the many are governed by the few. It occurs when a small body of individuals exercises final authority and control over society and that for personal or selfish (of philosophic) purposes.
In Miff Crommelin’s Communiqué last week he reminded us that “a God-honouring preamble that directs lawmakers and judges to uphold biblical principles of right and wrong, good and bad, is what constitutes Canada’s Christian heritage.” This week on reading “The Great Canadian Oligarchy”, Pastor Read I. Myers’ most recent book on flaws in our freedoms, I’m more convinced than ever that Canada’s Christian heritage was cleverly hijacked by the likes of Pierre Elliot Trudeau. To reverse the course upon which Mr. Trudeau has put our nation will be a monumental task (to say the least), because he was able to embed his uncharted course under the protection of our Canadian Charter.
In his book, Pastor’s Myers’ userfriendly yet well-researched explanation helps the reader understand the cleverness — yet deceitfulness — of the Trudeau strategy. Let me give you just two of many examples. Myers writes:
> “Under the enforcement clause of the Charter, the courts have in fact been given final authority over all matters of Law and the nature of what is to be considered justice. It reads like this: “Anyone… may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain remedy…” Now stop and consider what this clause is actually setting in place. Our elected members of parliament can pass a law representing the will of the people. However, a single individual who feels a law somehow infringes on his or her rights can apply to the courts, intending to have the law declared unconstitutional. The courts can then use the jurisdictional authority given them by the Charter and rule the law unconstitutional… the will of the people is thus rendered irrelevant.”
Hence, our nine Supreme Court judges — that small body of individuals — exercise final authority and control over society… and thus begins the reign of the Great Canadian Oligarchy. Clever?
Secondly, Pastor Myers explains the course upon which the former Prime Minister has placed us. As it turns out nobody knew, not even Trudeau. Myers writes:
> Let’s start with the Citation of the Charter under which we find Mr. Trudeau’s signature.
> “We must now establish the basic principles, the basic values and beliefs which hold us together as Canadians…”
> Now then take a moment and consider what is really being set in place when it comes to the future of our nation.
> “We must now establish” – So much for 800 years of history… We have had clearly defined principles and values. You know: things like freedom of conscience; freedom of religion; freedom of thoughts and belief; freedom of assembly… association… an absolute right to life… equal justice… right to private property.
> One can only wonder why we must “now establish the basic principles and values”…
Yes, really! What sounded like a wonderful patriotic statement was anything but!
Pastor Myers then draws a comparison between Canada and a large ocean liner firmly secured to the docks by hurricane-proof hawsers, which — in Canada’s case — are the principles set forth in the British North American Act. He shows that Mr. Trudeau cut those incredibly heavy ropes, and in effect severed the ties we have had with our long-loved historic Canadian principles and values. We are now a ship set adrift with the unspecified notion that somehow, we will find a new set of values and principles. Also, we are all on board — whether we like it or not; and we should be very concerned as to where this new secular crew is going to take us.
I conclude by encouraging you to read Pastor Myers’ Book. And I remind our readers that the highest order of the day, for the past twenty five years in the history of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada, has been — and will continue to be — to establish and maintain (in public policy) the solid Canadian principles that have been fine-tuned and have proven themselves worthy over their 800 years of history since the writing of the Magna Carta.
Additionally, the Christian Heritage Party promises that we will repair the damage done to our Charter, and establish a standing committee on the judiciary whose sole purpose will be to check the constitutionality of all Supreme Court rulings, thus ensuring that Parliament keeps the courts in check. Only in this way can Canada truly have a government that is “of the people, by the people, for the people” (Abraham Lincoln, 1863, quoting John Wycliffe* from 497 years earlier).
* the quotation is usually attributed to Lincoln, who used it in his Gettysburg Address; but it was originally penned by the great reformer and Bible translator John Wycliffe, who wrote of his English Bible: “This Bible is for the government, of the people, by the people, and for the people.”