It’s time to secure the future

In his 1984 State of the Union Address, Ronald Reagan decreed, “Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith.” It was a profound declaration of hope, responsibility, and vision. It also set the tone for one of the most economically prosperous periods in American history.

While the statement is from decades past, the principle and clarion call remains just as pertinent today as when it was first spoken.

It is very easy to become overwhelmed by the pressing issues of the day. There is so much going on in the world right now that it takes a tremendous amount of energy just to manage the pressures of each day to move on to the next, but I find it helpful to step back every now and then to gain perspective.

Since the founding of this nation, Canadians have overcome a tremendous number of challenges. They have encountered wars, a depression, extreme weather, difficult lands, disease, division, and pandemics. But one thing I want to note: we have always kept on keeping on! We have pushed onward and continued to persevere.

The spirit in the Canadian people is strong and enduring.

There is an understanding that we are constantly building for a more secure and prosperous future for the generations that will come after us. Though we are living in the here and now, we are dreamers and creators; we invent, and we restore.

Although many Canadians are still struggling to make it through this pandemic, I know we are going to come out stronger on the other side.

When circumstances become unstable and our worlds get thrown upside down, there are always opportunists ready to take advantage of an unfortunate situation. We have seen governments try to step in as the saviour while simultaneously taking away certain freedoms that have always served us well.

Instead of imploring a sense of courage, stability, and peace, the current leader of our country has stoked the flames of division, fear, and worry.

When Mr. Trudeau should have been planning our recovery, he was instead planning for an election in the hopes of capitalizing on a spike in the polls, all the while declaring Canadians needed to have a say in the way forward.

No doubt, he will get his wish. Canadians are going to have their say on September 20, and I wonder if Mr. Trudeau will be surprised at the response he gets.

While he is focused on exacerbating the division that exists in this country, Canadians are looking to secure the future.

While Mr. Trudeau is hoping Canadians will put their trust in government, they are putting their trust in each other—in the longstanding strength and ingenuity of their fellow man.

It is Canadians who are the problem solvers, the solution makers, and the wealthgenerators in this country, not the government.

Yes, we must get through these final stages of the pandemic, but we need to start building again. We need to get back to work, and get our economy roaring once more. We possess an inordinate amount of potential within this nation. We need to unleash it.

Canadians deserve a leader who sees where the strength and value of this country lies—with the people.

Amid every struggle is an incredible opportunity to overcome and grow in character and resolve. As much as this is true for the individual, it is also true for Canada as a nation.

This is a time for choosing. What kind of Canada do we wish to have, not only tomorrow, but in years to come?

In this election, we have the opportunity to secure a vibrant future for Canada.

My team and I have knocked on more than 15,000 doors and what I’m hearing again and again is that Canadians do not want the government to spend reckless amounts of money and weigh our country down with debt and high taxes.

Instead, they want a government that will focus on unleashing the potential of the Canadian people by getting rid of regulation and creating an environment for economic growth and prosperity. They want hope!

People elect Conservatives because they expect us to develop policy that will grow the economy and create jobs.

They expect us to budget within our means, stand up for victims, care for families, advocate for seniors, support our veterans, lower taxes, and deliver services with excellence.

They expect us to do all of this while being mindful of the cost and size of government.

People elect Conservatives because they expect us to be principled, hard-working, and compassionate—to be true public servants.

It has been a tremendous honour to serve the constituents of Lethbridge for nearly six years and it would be my great privilege to continue serving as the Member of Parliament. On September 20, I’m asking for your vote.