Geoffrey Capp (left) and Rachael Harder (right) share a laugh while the Rhinoceros Party candidate makes his opening statement at the YWCA Women’s Equality Issues Forum at CASA on Oct. 1, 2015.
With campaign trails blazing and the federal election drawing closer, the Christian Heritage Party believes Canadians need honest politicians.
Lethbridge CHP candidate, Geoffrey Capp, intends to implement change and is inspired by what he explains to be damaged citizens who have been harmed by current leadership.
“I see government policies that hurt Canadians and hurt families,” said Capp. “I have a strong motivation to suggest policies that will promote the well being of our families and our country.”
The Christian Heritage Party is a right-leaning political movement that endorses Judeo-Christian principles. The Canadian Charter of Rights has no explicit rule for the separation of church and state and as Capp points out, the foundation of the Constitution was formed by Christian values.
“The wisdom of the Bible is basic and sound wisdom. We already have Christian heritage in our laws,” he explained. “Christian heritage in our laws has provided for equality regardless of religious beliefs and the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.”
Prior to moving to Lethbridge, Capp campaigned in the Yukon four times and continues his crusade in Lethbridge.
Capp has earned respect for his never say die, philosophy–a trait NDP candidate, Cheryl Meheden finds admirable.
“He is a very honourable man with very strong convictions,” said Meheden. “ He holds true to his convictions.”
Central campaign manager, Frans VandeStroet resides over all of the candidates in his Southern Alberta area, believes in Capps integrity and is currently is focused as Capp’s fulltime campaign director,
“Geoff is very good at studying subjects in detail and very good at position statements, and policy development,” said VandeStroet. “If Geoffrey were elected to Parliament he would be an excellent MP.”
When the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives merged and decided that abortion is no longer for discussion, VandeStroet joined the CHP.With the Christian ideologies of the CHP, they take pride in being the only federal organization to fully endorse pro-life. When asked about the subject, Capp reiterates the parties unwavering stance.
“In regards to abortion, we hold that if a medical condition due to the pregnancy threatens the mother’s well being, doctors should make all efforts to preserve both lives and the unintentional death of one or both is not an offence,” explained Capp.
In the eyes of the CHP, they are the only real pro-family political organization in Canada. Promoting families to use adoption as an alternative to abortion. They look to create a better economy and improve the justice and health care systems for the average Canadian. Their tax benefits would allow full income splitting between married couples.
However in the taxation, defend life and defend marriage sections of their website they state that family and marriage is between one man and one woman. When questioned with what this could mean for same-sex couples, Capp stated he hadn’t caught any policies that singled them out.
“I haven’t heard any specific exclusion in that regard, income splitting would be offered to families and married couples,” said Capp. “I think our approach there would be to gain a greater understanding that same-sex marriage does not serve any purpose other than for the two people within that relationship.”
The CHP’s perspective on family and morals extends into the arts as well. They assert too much government funding goes into art without considering who pays for it. They would approve grants for artists who create works they deem acceptable. Capp explained that projects exploiting sex and violence would have to receive funding from private investors.
“Art has to have some kind of merit,” said Capp. “I don’t think government should be using tax payer money to finance art that may not be pleasurable to every single person.”
Art and Education student at the U of L, Andrea Webster, worries about how the CHP’s definition and attitude towards family and art could change the social and cultural landscape of the city if he were elected on Oct.19.
