My office helped a constituent acquire a machine gun a couple of weeks ago. Now we wouldn’t do it for just any constituent. However, since Rev. Al Hingley (curator of the Benson-Hingley Military Museum in Humboldt) already has an armoured personal carrier (APC), we thought it would be alright.

The Department of National Defence donated the APC as a display piece to the Benson-Hingley Military Museum. A (non-functioning) machine gun was recently promised by the DND to the museum as well. The machine gun and the APC it will sit on will be a physical reminder of the service and sacrifice made by the men and women who have protected our country.

 The donation of these pieces of retired military equipment to a local museum also illustrates an important point: Canadian culture and history need to be celebrated throughout the whole country; not just in the big urban centers.

Canadian culture should not be about subsidized programs doled out by the government in a handful of big cities. Local museums (like the one in Humboldt, run by volunteers) and other such institutions also preserve and promote Canadian history and culture.

Our culture is defined by the Canadian people in the regions in which they live–not by some government program. Culture is not something invented in Ottawa.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.