Our new Prime Minister

Well, we have a new prime minister and a new minority government. My prayers will definitely work in overtime for Mr. Harper and whoever he appoints to his cabinet.

If you know me, I have some serious reservations about the Conservative party. Their general neo-conservative approach to economics has lead to some serious problems in my own province of Ontario (ie. Walkerton, child care, poverty, etc.). Big business has generally improved and flourished under a Conservative government. Unfortunately, the theory of trickle-down economics brought little other benefits to our province. Ontario reacted by electing a Liberal government in our last provincial election.

I fear that these same effects may occur in a Conservative federal government. Mr. Harper has already shown signs of falling in line with the Republicans of America with his recent decision to not support the Hamas government democratically elected in Palestine. That's not going to make friends anytime soon. True enough, Hamas is linked to terrorist activities, but we won't get into Israeli military activities against Palestinians and Canada's subsequent support of Israel.

I also don't like the idea that many of my Christian brothers and sisters are shouting for triumph over the recent Conservative victory. Most of these celebrations revolve around the issues of same-sex marriage and abortion (and the idea that a Conservative government will revoke these), and not around the issues of poverty and social welfare (issues that are fundamentally more important to me as a Christ-follower). I sometimes feel like I need to apologize to people for the idea that Christians are vehement about whether or not the state gives two people of the same sex property rights through the act of marriage; rather than being vehement about what we need to do to ensure the well-being of those people who have suffered or are incapable of providing for themselves.

I sincerely pray that Mr. Harper and his government will work to ensure social welfare and maintain some of the institutions that observe some of the best Christian values (ie. free public health care, social programs, etc.). I also pray that with this minority government, we can enjoy a time of true democratic process where no one party will be able to mandate so much public law but will actually have to work with others in order to get something done for the good of the Canadian people.