On Sunday morning I had planned to send to a number of my friends in the Jewish community a text message wishing them a happy Hanukkah as it was the first day of the celebration. Before doing so, I scrolled the news on my phone and, like so many others who saw it, was shocked by the news from Australia. There, 15 people were killed by a terrorist who targeted people celebrating the beginning of Hanukkah. Many of the friends I had planned to text on Sunday had for months been telling me about the rise of antisemitism they have been experiencing here in Canada. And now they were dealing with a horrific attack against the Jewish people on the first day of the Festival of Lights.

It wasn’t long before I received a message from a Jewish leader in Winnipeg asking if I would attend one of the Hanukkah ceremonies planned at a Winnipeg synagogue to show solidarity with the Jewish people. While I had not originally planned to attend, I immediately said yes and was honoured to be there and, as a Christian, address those in attendance and express our solidarity with the Jewish people on that difficult day. My wife and I felt blessed to be able to attend and to show support to the community that was both grieving a tragedy while also preparing to celebrate Hanukkah.

As Christians, we too are preparing to observe an important date on our spiritual calendar. Around the world Christians will mark Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. In those observances we will celebrate how the coming of Jesus brought both hope to the world and shined a light into the darkness.

A significant part of the ministry of Jesus was about helping those who were hurting and those who were in need of help. He offered that help and that love and support without condemnation and judgement. For that reason a central theme in the Christian faith is Jesus as the light in the darkness.

“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’” (Luke 2:10).

Most of us have heard these words countless times. It’s a key part of the Christmas story, where angels appeared to shepherds while they were watching their sheep at night.

The angels said that they brought good news to the shepherds. The Greek word translated as good news in this verse is euangelizomai, which is the verbal form of gospel. According to the angels, this gospel message would bring great joy to all the people.

Thousands of years earlier, God had a similar message for Eve. Immediately before expelling Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, God pronounced judgment on the serpent (Satan) and made an important promise.

A man accused of disconnecting the power to an RM of Springfield resident’s home on two separate occasions was arrested by RCMP and faces multiple charges.

Oakbank RCMP said in a Dec. 12 news release that they received a complaint of a power outage from a 53-year-old female on Oct. 8.

The victim told police this was the second time it had occurred, the first event happening on July 31.

The investigation led to a suspect, a 54-year-old male and a subsequent seizure of firearms, which were found improperly stored.

The fall session of the Manitoba Legislature came to a close this past week.

The failures of the NDP Government were on full display this fall, as little was accomplished for Manitobans.

Rather than take concrete action on such pressing matters as affordability, crime, healthcare, and Manitoba’s weakening economy, this failed government chose instead to focus on symbolic gestures and bullying rhetoric as they sought to mislead Manitobans.

Manitobans are struggling to afford the basic essentials of life. Violent crime continues to surge in our province. ER wait times can exceed 20 hours to see a doctor, and long time NDP supporters the Manitoba Nurses Union give this government a D minus on their performance as hospitals are grey listed and patients die in ER waiting rooms. After a mere two years of NDP rule, Manitoba has the weakest economy in Canada and we are hemorrhaging jobs and investment as businesses pack up and leave town. All as the out-of-touch NDP smile and pat themselves on the back for a job well done.

At Christmas, families come together and celebrate the season. Students return from university, young families reunite with grandparents, and extended family travel long distances to be around a familiar table. Of course, food is almost always a part of the celebration as families join at festive tables with traditional dishes, all creating new memories. Stories are shared, and burdens are shared. All problems aren’t solved but there is a sense that together, challenges can be faced.

I believe that Canada and the U.S. share a similar bond. We are two distinct nations, different in character and perspective, yet united by common values, a shared history, and one of the world’s longest and most trusted borders. For decades, both countries have benefited from deep cooperation, mutual respect, and strong trade relationships

Regrettably, over the past year, relations have been strained.

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the 31st Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum in Washington, DC, with colleagues from other Canadian parties and parliamentarians from around the world. Since its inception in 2014, the forum has brought more than 3,000 parliamentarians from 120 countries to engage in dialogue and strategic global briefings. These included cyber warfare, digital currencies, AI, quantum computing, illicit finance/trade, adversarial foreign investments, supply chains, energy, critical minerals, human trafficking, migration, and other related topics. Engaging in dialogue mutually benefits nations.