Thoughts And Prayers – Performative

So, of course the Liberal government want to censor and limit debate on one of its censorship laws. Of course, politicians and bureaucrats will still perform acts of deference to God and The Charter and Democracy while removing them for our own good. Welcome to the end game for Canada. The following letter was written to various apparatchiks in our selected governments. They probably are not read but still, to do nothing is to give in to evil. You might as well pray.

To: “Danielle Smith” info@unitedconservative.ca; “Office of the Premier” premier@gov.ab.ca; “MA Minister” minister.municipalaffairs@gov.ab.ca; “Blake Richards – Member of Parliament” blake@blakerichards.ca; “Airdrie-Cochrane” airdrie.cochrane@assembly.ab.ca; “Airdrie East” airdrie.east@assembly.ab.ca; “Poilievre, Pierre – M.P.” pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca; “pierre.poillievre@parl.gc.ca” pierre.poillievre@parl.gc.ca

To Our Fellow Albertans and Canadians,

Canada is experiencing the greatest level of division and hatred in its history. There is growing evidence through incidents that this division and hatred is fuelling acts of violence and obvious intimidation and terrorism. Current geopolitical and economic crises deepen this unrest.  

Three different Toronto synagogues have been attacked by gunmen in five days. This is just the latest in the antisemitic crime wave that has swept over Canada, especially Toronto and Montreal. A Jewish girls’ school has also been attacked by gunmen three times. Synagogues and Christian churches and schools have been vandalized and threatened in Calgary and Edmonton. This can only escalate if not addressed.

Since May 2021, there has been a sustained series of attacks on Christian churches in Canada, with at least 33 churches burned to the ground and dozens more vandalized. The Catholic Civil Rights League documented over 85 Catholic church incidents involving fire or vandalism since 2021.  A 2025 report by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) confirmed at least 44 churches burned between 2021 and 2024, with 24 confirmed as arson. These attacks span multiple provinces and have affected Catholic, Anglican, United, and evangelical churches. Most recently, on February 23, 2026, arson destroyed the historic Saint-Paul Catholic Church in Montreal. Mosques have also been targeted. 

The current federal government is trying desperately to push through numerous bills that are meant to restrict rights and freedoms trough censorship, the most dangerous being Bill C-9 which would restrict thought, speech, and gathering of all faiths while somehow claiming to be champions of Democracy and The Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

During the last Airdrie municipal election, candidates unanimously agreed to keep the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast as an annual event. If this event is to be continued it would be prudent to reveal what its intent and purpose is to be. If it is to pray for peace, unity and thoughtful and ethical public service through turbulent times, then this is event and tradition would have value. If this event is to provide political capital or to appease those affected by harmful and divisive public policy it is a disingenuous and performative display.

Rather than engage in political and ideological posturing, perhaps the City of Airdrie could adopt a more neutral code of conduct that focuses on the basics of maintaining efficient and fiscally competent infrastructure and public safety. As seen with the recent controversy surrounding the use of Airdrie Aspire – a public facility – for political and ideological activism and the rollout of enhanced social justice agendas, to stray from neutrality can lead to further conflict and division.

If we are to be thoughtful in prayer for anything, let it be for the safe and prosperous futures of our children, of all children, in a free and peaceful society. 

Sincerely,

Al Neitsch

Airdrie, Alberta