News

ENFIELD, Nova Scotia, June 15, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Christian Heritage Party (CHP), Canada’s pro-life and pro-family political party, has just approved and launched packages to facilitate the establishment of provincial parties under the CHP banner.

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Party Leader Jim Hnatiuk says the core values that have identified the party at the federal level, which include a pro-life position “without exception,” will “absolutely” be taken to the provincial level as well.

“Obviously for our pro-life position and position on traditional marriage, [the provinces] would reflect the federal level,” Hnatiuk told LifeSiteNews. “The provinces would understand that from the get-go.”

Over the past year, the CHP has been analyzing and working to establish a provincial initiative that would give a “true reflection” of what the federal party has established.

The provincial packages were approved at the National Board Meeting, which took place in St. Catherine’s, Ontario on June 9-10.

The aim of the packages, Hnatiuk told LSN, is to help the provinces and, at the same time, gain the benefits of having more people involved in the CHP, which may lead to added strength for the national party.

“We’re excited that we can now launch this,” he said.

A group in Manitoba has already taken the initiative to begin establishing a provincial CHP party, although it may be too late to put everything in place before the upcoming October provincial election.  Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and the territories also have elections this fall.  Some in Alberta have expressed a keen interest in the CHP initiative as well.

Hnatiuk stressed that they are not intending to disrupt the efforts of any pro-family parties already established, such as the Family Coalition Party of Ontario and the new PEI Family Party.  Those two parties have already been in touch with the CHP about the initiative.  Hnatiuk said that they have reached an agreement with FCP leader Phil Lees that Ontario candidates who approach the CHP would be directed to contact and join the FCP.

“We want to tip our hats to those parties and work with them as much as possible,” Hnatiuk said.

The door is also open for Ontario and PEI’s family parties to join the CHP banner if they chose, he said, noting that the fall elections will help them to “determine that course of action.” “They would have to see if coming under the CHP banner would further their cause or not,” he added.

The CHP’s Provincial Package includes major documents, including templates and legal agreements, to help the provinces form a “full-slated policy” in conjunction with the federal CHP platform, especially on education and healthcare platforms that affect provincial, rather than federal governing.

For instance, the provincial education platforms would reflect the CHP policy that “educational excellence” is achieved when parents and families have a say in how their children are educated.

Additionally, the party’s federal health care policies, which include defunding abortion, would necessarily be handed down to the provincial parties.

“We’re excited at the federal level that we now have the package developed. We’re looking forward to how this is going to help build our party, provincially and federally,” Hnatiuk told LSN.

“It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s rewarding now that we have the packages available for the provinces,” he concluded. “It’s not going to happen overnight, but we’ve got the blueprint there and we’ve got to do the building.”

To learn more about the Christian Heritage Party, visit their website.