“Important!” “Exciting!” “Historic event!”

These were the words that Ray Pennings used to describe the forthcoming national founding convention of the Christian Heritage Party (CHP) to be held on November 18 to 20, at the Convention Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.

It’s understandable that Ray should be so excited about the forthcoming event because he’s the convention chairman and in charge of the proceedings. He’s expecting 800 delegates to attend form all over Canada.

“Since February, membership in the CHP has increased 200 percent. We now have over 3,000 members ad we are still growing,” he claimed. “There are over 60 working committees promoting the party in their particular ridings. Only 20 members from each riding in attendance will be allowed to vote at the convention. This is to ensure fairness. However, non-voting delegates will enjoy every other privilege of a delegate.”

A number of motions are being put forward that should provide for lively debate. Delegates were urged to register now (416-648-0863). A sumptuous banquet is planned for Friday and is open to the public, followed by the highlight of the convention, a public rally at the newly-built, world-class Hamilton Place, where the newly elected executive will briefly address the crowd, followed by a wide variety of foot-stomping musical entertainment.

Ray Pennings was delighted with the success of the Family Coalition Party in the recent Ontario provincial election and stressed that the CHP on the federal scene, and the FCP on the provincial scene, should continue to co-operate and live in harmony. He was pleased with the good will demonstrated so far and cited the co-operation extended to the FCP by the CHP during the recent Ontario provincial election as an example.

He denied that the CHP was being ‘pigeon-holed’ by its name, saying that the same basic values espoused by the CHP are also espoused by the Hindu community.

Many controversial stands have to be addressed at the convention but he was confident that the party will come out of the convention strengthened and ready to take on the old line parties in the next federal election, expected within two years.