As Trail Times editor Guy Bertrand suggested (“Trudeau’s visit offers hope for forgotten voters,” Trail Times, Thursday, July 25, 2013), there are several prisms through which to view Justin Trudeau’s visit to Trail last week. My view, I believe, is as an informed voter, basing my opinion on Justin’s beliefs and not the fact that he is considered by many to bring “political charisma.”
Last year Justin addressed a gender-segregated gathering of Islamists in Toronto that was sponsored by the International Relief Fund for the Afflicted & Needy.
Revenue Canada lists this group as “an integral part of an international fundraising effort to support Hamas.” They were also an active promoter of Sharia Law in the Ontario Family Law Courts during the ‘04-’05 debate. They support polygamy and refused to renounce the doctrine of armed jihad.
More recently he has appeared with the Islamic Society of North America, whose parent organization has been listed by the US. Justice Dept. as one of the “entities who are or who were members of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood. Trudeau’s association with this group was condemned by the founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress, Tarek Fatah, who wonders if Justin doesn’t understand the threat posed to Canadian values by Islamists. He refers to Justin as “the new Muslim Brotherhood’s stooge.”
You speak of Justin as “a politician who is trying to break an old pattern of politicking that usually relies upon $500 - a plate dinners.....” He may not have charged the people gathered at Gyro Park, but he did charge the charity organization, Grace Foundation $20,000 speaking fees, to name only one group. It’s my understanding that sitting MP’s don’t charge to make speeches. Trudeau actually double-billed on more than one occasion - charging his clients for his speaking services, and at the same time collecting his MP’s pay, even though he wasn’t present in the House, failing to fulfill his public duties and missing votes.
In 2010 he said “Canada isn’t doing well right now because it’s Albertans who control our community and socio-democratic agenda. It doesn’t work.” When asked if Canada was “better served where there were more Quebecers in charge than Albertans, he answered; “I’m a Liberal, so, yes......... when we look at the great Prime Ministers......they were MP’s from Quebec...... This country - Canada - it belongs to us.” That quote doesn’t fit with your assessment of a politician who says every corner of Canada is important.
Like his father who in 1969 opened the floodgates to legalized abortion in this country, Justin is in favour of a “woman’s right to choose.” In 1969 there were some restrictions on abortion, as of 1988 Canada has been without a law regulating this barbaric practice, yet the medical system funds every penny of it, and there are no wait times for this “procedure.”
The unborn children Justin Trudeau advocates killing as a “choice,” may not be voters, but they are surely “forgotten.”
Marty Makway
Trail