JOHN BAIRD - Not Easy to Replace

(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

It caught everyone by surprise, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper. His motivation appears entirely personal. He didn't want to become a "lifer' in federal politics, and at the age of 45, John Baird, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister announced his resignation in the House of Commons on Tuesday February 3, 2015. MPs of all parties respect him and yesterday they expressed rousing thanks and best wishes to him with applause, handshakes and hugs as he leaves to pursue opportunities in the private sector.

Baird is highly marketable and sources say he has received a specific job offer but he has not disclosed what his next chapter will be. The larger question for us is what will the Conservatives next chapter be? Baird's departure is a huge loss for Harper and the Conservative government. PM Harper, last summer, rebuilt his cabinet to carry the party to the next election. Baird is not easy to replace. He was one of Harper's most reliable and effective communicators. While Baird has kindly stated that Stephen Harper is "his friend and mentor," Baird did not genuflect before Harper. He has strong opinions and he spoke loudly on matters of conscience if needed at the Cabinet table. Harper needs people whom he respects who can disagree and dissent when making decisions. Together with the resignation and sudden death of John Flaherty last year, Harper has lost two such voices. Further, Baird was a trusted political ally with whom Harper has been able to safely speak about strategy and political matters.

Where does Harper find someone to seamlessly move into Baird's critical portfolio? Canada faces challenging foreign affairs issues including the role of Canadian Forces in the battle against ISIS and most immediately, a decision on whether to extend Canada's mission in Iraq.

Some of my family and friends hope Conservatives will lose the next election - badly. My politics are conservative but I am concerned about aspects of policy and personality. I will be watching carefully.

Baird was interviewed yesterday by Peter Mansbridge following his announcement. Watch Mansbridge One on One on CBC News Network, this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET and on CBC-TV Sunday at 1 p.m.

CASJAFVA Dinner Speech / Part 348 / For Love and For Justice / Zabeth and Paul Bayne

This past Sunday evening my wife and I were invited guests at a fund-raising dinner held by CASJAFVA, that is an acronym for Canadian Alliance for Social Justice and Family Values Association. It was held in Vancouver's Chinatown at the Floata Restaurant. Six hundred people were in attendance, including some media people and some politicians and candidates for office. It is primarily Chinese based and operated having been founded and nurtured by lawyer K-John Cheung in 1997.

Brad Trost in the House

The guest speaker was the Honourable MP Mr. Brad Trost, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Humboldt. Brad currently serves as a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade. He formerly served as a member of the Natural Resources Committee and before that, the Industry Committee. He is the founder of the Conservative Party's Energy Caucus and is a member of the cross-party Pro-Life Caucus. He has also served as an elected vice-chair of the Canada-U.S. Parliamentary Association since 2006. At the dinner he touched on a number of points that struck responsive chords with his audience and he focused upon Immigrations issues to inform us about federal government interest, initiatives and proposals. Mr. Trost has a reputation for conservative values quite in keeping with similar convictions held by CASJAFVA.

I too was invited to provide an update about Paul and Zabeth Bayne who were also in attendance. This organization has been a principal supporter within the network of encouragement that has been offered to this couple over the past three years. The Baynes were presented to this large crowd last year. Their tears flowed as people stood to applaud them. I am providing the text of my speech here today and tomorrow.

First Part

“These have been three of the longest and most painful years that any parent could possibly live and survive. Three children, with two of whom, the sons Kent and Baden, Paul and Zabeth had already begun a loving parent-child relationship with ideals for their lives, with goals and hoped-for plans of a nurturing family in which their faith in God would play an important role. With the third child, a girl, Bethany, came the exciting prospect of a tiny child in dresses and with long hair and a sweet smile but she was only weeks old and any possibility of relationship had not yet had time to develop. And then with the incident/accident and the hospital diagnosis, and the response by police and the Ministry of Children, any relationship with her was put into jeopardy. Furthermore the two boys were children, for whom no explanation could possibly be adequate to mitigate the sheer terror of being snatched away from their parents. All of that happened three years ago. This past Friday was the third anniversary of their removal.”