“Government should exist to serve the citizens and not the other way around.” The Strength and Tenacity of MP Leslyn Lewis

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“To whom much is given much is required.” MP Dr. Leslyn Lewis

When you think of the word courage you may first picture physical bravery, or even the face of someone stoic, determined, speaking boldly, persuasively, and with charisma, but there are many other forms of courage. After all, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” No one exemplifies this better than the great Nelson Mandela.

We are living in a time where bravery, the strength to stand for what you believe in, is almost seen as a faux pas. In the last two to three years, anyone who has questioned their governments, has been bullied, censored, and punished for showing their will. In Canada, many of our politicians conceded to the mandates enforced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and those who did not were booted out of Parliament.

There are a few who regardless of how it looked, regardless of the ridicule, regardless of the threats to their livelihood, they stood up for what they believed in, and they stood up for the citizens of Canada.

One of these people is Dr Leslyn Lewis, Member of Parliament for Haldimand—Norfolk.

She believes that the government should exist to serve the citizens and not the other way around. “We must be a country where the freedom of religion, conscience and expression, and the rule of law are upheld.”

MP Lewis is not a career politician. She feels that she has been given much by this great country, and by her hardworking parents before her. She wants her children to inherit an even better Canada than the one that has given her so much.

As many of you know, it is time for members of the Conservative Party of Canada to vote for their next leader. The Conservative Party of Canada has sent out most of the ballots, and members must now choose how they will rank: Scott Aitchison, Roman Baber, Jean Charest, Leslyn Lewis, and Pierre Poilievre.

Since her short time in Parliament, MP Lewis has spoken strongly against many of the mandates that have been rolled out during the pandemic, and she continues to be a force for the people.

She has spoken in support for farmers, and called for action and support of the agricultural sector. In March 2022, she spoke to the fact that even though Ontario was dropping proof of vaccination policies on April 4^th, the Liberals were dragging their feet by refusing to remove their unscientific and undemocratic federal mandates.

To the joy of boat enthusiasts, in May 2022, MP Lewis announced that the Canada Border Services Agency would resume service at most small vessel reporting sites, allowing international visitors to, once again, sail directly into our communities and enjoy and contribute to local economies. She has also bravely questioned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the WHO Pandemic Treaty, and asked him why he had not let Canadians know exactly what was going on.

As of right now, she is the only candidate in the leadership race that has confidently stated her pro-life convictions.

Last May, during a Conservative Party leadership debate, all candidates were asked, “Would you support legislation on abortion?” Charest, Aitchison, and Baber all answered that they are pro-choice and support a “Woman’s right to choose,” to kill a pre-born baby growing inside her. Pierre Poilievre, in his defence, did not give his personal opinion on abortion, but responded that, “A Poilievre government would not introduce or pass legislation restricting abortion.”

Leslyn Lewis, however confidently stated that she’s pro-life. She correctly explained that Canada disturbingly allows abortion all the way up until nine months of pregnancy, for any reason, and said that politicians need to have conversations about abortion and come to agreement about how they can help support a culture of life.

Leslyn Lewis also has pro-life policies to back up her beliefs. She’s promising to repeal Bill C-7, which made it so that Canadians could die by euthanasia even if their deaths weren’t “reasonably foreseeable.” She promised to protect the conscience rights of doctors and endorsed MP Kelly Block’s Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act. Leslyn Lewis, more than any other candidate, has brought attention to the ways in which euthanasia is being pushed upon vulnerable individuals in Canada.

Leslyn Lewis has put forward policies to ban sex-selective abortion, stop overseas funding of abortion, ban coerced abortion, and support crisis pregnancy centres. No other candidate has made such promises to stand for life. In fact, both Pierre Poilievre and Scott Aitchison voted against banning sex-selective abortion in 2021, when Bill-233 was up for vote.

As a Caribbean community, we ask for leadership, and we are being presented with a solid offer. We need to find ways to support our leaders, especially the ones who continue to put their necks out there for us. You can learn more about MP Dr Leslyn Lewis by visiting her at https://leslynlewismp.ca/.