Around this time of year, it is always important to take a moment and to consider how fortunate we are Canadians. While no country is perfect, and in a democracy, citizens have both the right and responsibility to protect and expand their freedoms, it is worth reflecting on how much we have to be thankful for.

On a humorous note, Canadians have a system of electing their representatives that seems to relatively effective. Mark an 'x' beside the name and put it into the box. America-bashers do mock too much, but it was certainly comedic that the country that put a man on the moon had difficulty this past year putting a man in White House.

Canada, by most fair standards, is relatively corruption-free. There are exceptions on occasion, but I doubt 99.9 percent of Canadians have ever had to concern themselves about whether an employee of the state will demand a bribe.

Prosperity and peace is a mark of Canada as it enters the 21st century. There are 51 other weeks in the year to discuss and debate how the first trait can and must be improved upon for all, but for most Canadians, deprivation is not a constant threat. While Christmas, whether one celebrates it or not, can be an expensive time of the year - it is a wonderful reminder of the need to stop and contribute to our fellow citizens who have not yet shared in Canada's abundance. Private charities such as the Salvation Army or the Union Gospel Mission or any number of worthy endeavours in one's local community are probably the most effective in delivering immediate help in times of crisis.

It is also important once a year to reflect upon the public servants, both political and in the bureaucracy, who serve Canadians. Accountability, wrestling over issues, and the proper use of tax dollars, are all necessary and critical to a well-governed country and disagreements over such should never be confused with respect for the institutions of power themselves. Whether one agrees or disagrees with one's councillor, MLA, or MP on every issue or none, it is worth noting their service to others. They deserve our sincere thanks because public service and governing, perhaps rightly, is not an easy task.

In considering our good fortune and our rights and responsibilities, two comments from William Lawrence, a 19th-century legislator from Nova Scotia, are worth remembering:

"In a free government there must always be divisions and parties; and there should be, because eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, and nothing so stimulates vigilance as the conflicting opinions of parties. But we should ever remember that the claims of our country stand far above the claims of party."

"The spirit of liberty will make itself heard wherever it exists. Let us take care of our rights, for political expediency in limiting a people's freedom is a dangerous principle and will never satisfy a free people. I believe one of the great objects, at the present time, should be to foster a spirit of peace and harmony amongst our own people, and harmony can only be maintained by a patriotic, wise, and noble use of power."

Lawrence spoke in 1867 and argued for the consent of the people for the proposed Confederation then discussed, a country now known as Canada. Events and issues have of course, changed, but his words are as valuable now as they were then. Responsibility, freedom, and Canada, are certainly all worth raising a glass to in any century.