Heather Stilwell thinks Canadians should decide for themselves who they listen to in political debates.
The leader of the Christian Heritage Party says her party’s point of view, which is unique among the established political parties, should be offered to the electorate during a national debate.
“What are they afraid of,” Stilwell said in a recent interview. “We’re more of a national party than some others.”
Stilwell and the CHP are vying to join the established candidates during their nationally televised debates.
Mel Hurtig’s National Party is also making a bid to join the CHP and the established parties during the debate.
With a federal election approaching “we’re coming along very well,” Stilwell said. Party members have selected candidates from across the country who will run in at least 50 ridings, in many cases offering the only pro-life alternative to voters.
The drive by the CHP to get air time on a national debate has created some media attention and public notice for the party.
One high-profile CHP candidate, who will be taking on the Prime Minister, Kim Campbell, in her own riding of Vancouver Central, has also created publicity.
Darren Lowe was rejected by the Reform Party after it was revealed he had written some pro-homosexual letters to various newspapers.
Lowe, who became a Christian in 1986, switched from Reform to CHP. In what will be a closely-watched race, he is running against Kim Campbell, a lesbian New Democrat candidate and pro-abortion Liberal and Reform candidates.
Stilwell calls Lowe a “hardworking candidate.” Allowing him to join the CHP as a candidate shows “we are against homosexual practice, not homosexuals.”
Stilwell admits the mainline parties are focusing on economics in the lead-up to a federal election. It is something which Canadians seem to be saying concerns them most. But she adds that the economy isn’t something which can be isolated from every other issue. There are “lots of bridges” which the CHP can use to talk about their issues when they are dealing with the economy.
“People are concerned about the economy,” Stilwell says. “But we’re in this mess because we have fallen away from our Christian heritage.”
The CHP is Canada’s only pro-life, pro-family party running in the national election. Founded in 1987, it was intended to offer Canadians an alternative to the mainstream parties.
The party constitution is uncompromisingly Christian stating that civil government should be under the authority of God. The aim of the party is “to provide true Christian leadership and to defend, promote and uphold biblical principles in federal legislation.”
