
Feature, Musings —04.15.2025 11:59 AM
—My latest: godless
What would Jesus do?
Well, if He ran Elections Canada, He probably wouldn’t do what Elections Canada is doing this year. Which is conduct advance polls on some of the holiest days of the year, for Christians and Jews alike.
For Christians, the holiest days of the year are Good Friday (when Christ was crucified and died) and Easter Sunday (when He rose from the dead). For Jews, the Sabbath is always holy, and the Ten Commandments require that it be a day of rest – while Passover is holy, too (and commemorates the exodus of Jews from Egypt).
Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Passover and the Sabbath: for Christians and Jews, those days are among the most holy, most hallowed days in the calendar year. And, as noted, the Ten Commandments – observed by Christians and Jews alike – decrees that the observant must always remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. Per Exodus 20:8: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work.”
That’s a quote from God, which is a pretty authoritative source. But Stéphane Perrault, who has been Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer since 2018, is perhaps unfamiliar with the Ten Commandments. He, with the power bestowed on him by Parliament, decided to hold advance polls on April 18, 19, 20 and 21. Literally, Passover, the Sabbath, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Holy Week.
It’s not like Perrault had no choice. His own web site says the following: “The Canada Elections Act currently grants the Chief Electoral Officer the discretion to recommend to the government an alternate day for the general election if the CEO is of the opinion that the date is not suitable, including by reason of its being in conflict with a day of cultural or religious significance.”
There can’t be many days less “suitable” for advance polls than Passover, the Sabbath, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, can there? Election day is important, advance polls less so. Perrault was deciding when advance polls should take place – and he chose days that, for most observant Christians and Jews, are a violation of their faith.
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If the advance poll dates don’t work for you, there are other ways to vote in advance (Mail or elections Canada offices) and then there’s the actual election day.
Not a big deal.
For Christians and Jews, it’s a big deal.
Weekend before or after Easter would be just fine. Glad it’s not Christmas!
If true, why is no one covering this big story?
https://www.meghanmurphy.ca/p/just-when-i-thought-the-canadian?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web
This is not a “big story” it the rantings of a whackjob and furthermore “the government” didn’t shut down here account, the bank itself did. I’m surprised WK let you post a link to this utter BS.
Seems to me Jesus healed people on the Sabbath…if you read you’ll find out what Jesus would do. So vote when it suits your schedule and beliefs. Just be sure to vote!
Warren,
No doubt another Trudeau appointee…
Everyone seems to be missing the point.
Remember when Elections Canada was going to delay the fixed election date because of Diwali? That was so cute!
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/canada-to-delay-elections-next-year-to-avoid-clash-with-diwali-5300682
Well, by that token, we shouldn’t be shopping on the weekends.