By the time you read this, it’s likely the federal government has passed Bill C-9. The law specifically removes a clause that allows Canadians to use a religious exemption as part of their legal defence against accusations of “hate speech.” The problem, of course, is that “hate speech” is so broadly defined that those prone to be offended by religious objections to unbiblical sexual behaviours or beliefs will accuse innocent people of fostering “hate.”

In this episode, Jay Hildebrand sits down with Josh Senneker, Director of Public Policy for Alberta Reformer, to discuss the alarming implications of Bill C-9 and the urgent necessity of The Ottawa Statement on Christian Speech.

The recent shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia has drawn worldwide attention. The events of that day were terrible, tragic, and wicked. These mass shooting events, happening all too often in the modern era, are reminders of the sinfulness of man, the disregard for human life, the hatred of others, and the apparent powerlessness of governing authorities to stop such carnage from happening again.

Albertans will recall that in early 2022, Canada’s Federal Government froze the bank accounts of many citizens who donated to Ottawa’s Freedom Convoy. Also, at least some of us have become aware of the emergence of central bank digital currency (CBDC)1, and even the ways in which our existing financial system already acts as a mechanism of digital control.2 These actions and trends have led to great opposition from many Christians in Alberta. Is their concern justifiable? Do we have digital property rights as well as those for physical property?

Immigration in the West is now an inescapable reality. Churches can seem very confused about how to approach the topic. On the one hand, churches, like businesses, have been buoyed by new immigrant Christians who have re-filled their seats and renewed their relevance. On the other hand, the unassimilated influx of massive Sikh, Hindu and Muslim people groups into the West has recast communities in entirely different ways than they were before.

Recently, a Federal Court struck down Alberta’s legislation protecting children from transgender ideology. A leaked memo shows that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith plans to use the Notwithstanding Clause to override the Federal Court’s decision. Premier Smith has come under severe criticism for doing so and has been accused of “unconstitutional” activity.

“I’ve seen your name in the paper quite a bit lately,” he said. I had run into an old friend while shopping at the local mall. We both used to attend the same church. He’d since moved away but had recently moved back to the area. “So, what’s it like,” he continued, “trying to present a Christian witness amidst all the dirt of local politics?”

“Gambling will never be safe,” Minister Dale Nally admitted at the second reading debate for Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act. “But,” he argued, “there are ways to make it safer.” Alberta has already embraced online gambling through the provincially run Play Alberta, launched in 2020. But the recently passed iGaming Alberta Act will expand online gambling even further.

In any large country with diverse regions like Canada, it will be very hard for the national government to satisfy everyone all the time. Policies that help one region may hurt another, and there are never enough resources to meet the needs of all regions at once. Conflict between people of the various regions is, therefore, inevitable and to be expected. Nevertheless, if a government sincerely desires to do its best for the whole country, the regions that benefit most from its policies will shift over time, so that each region will get its fair share at one time or another. Arguably, this is how Canada operated for its first hundred years.