CHP Hamilton Mountain launched their public awareness campaign, Competing Human Rights . . . Where is the Justice? on August 1. It consisted of three bus shelter poster ads and the distribution of two thousand four hundred flyers, which asked a simple question, “Competing Human Rights . . . Where is the Justice?”

The bus shelter and flyer image was that of a male, seen from the back, beginning to push open a door on which was posted a sign reading “Ladies Showers” and the words, “Competing Human Rights . . . Where is the Justice?” This, to most observers, would seem to be a fair question and one deserving of a considerate response, but apparently not in the City of Hamilton, in Ontario. On August 10, the City of Hamilton received one phone call of complaint and by the end of the day sent their staff to remove the poster from the bus shelters; in doing so, they broke a contract between CHP Hamilton Mountain and the media firm that owns the advertising rights on these shelters.

The media picked up on this and by the end of August 11, we had been interviewed by CBC Hamilton and the Hamilton Spectator. By the end of August 12, we were also interviewed by a smaller local newspaper and appeared on the local radio station afternoon talk show during which the host hung up on us. He had become flustered when we turned the tables on him and pointed out that his manner of conducting himself is what contributes to hysteria, hatred and division. Further to all of this, by the evening of August 12, the issue was covered by Ezra Levant on The Rebel internet news program, which has two hundred and sixty thousand paid subscribers! In addition to all of this, the local radio station was announcing this news item four to five times per hour from morning to night and the local television station was also broadcasting it.

Many well-wishers e-mailed and contacted us on Facebook with messages of condolence and encouragement for which we are most thankful but, here is the thing: we here in Hamilton have been mightily blessed by the Lord’s intervention and provision. Yes, we paid $1,500 for twenty eight days of bus shelter ad space and only got about ten days of them, which to some may seem a tremendous loss, but we in Hamilton do not see it that way. The goal of our public campaign was to raise public awareness locally about problematic policy that we felt would lead to unrestricted male access and use of public female washrooms, change rooms, and showers, an issue too important to ignore. With our original plan (three bus shelters and 2,400 flyers), we might have reached 10,000 people over a period of 28 days. However, thanks to the City’s action and the hysteria created by the media efforts, we may very well have raised public awareness for half a million people or more! How do we expect to reap where we do not sow?

The remaining road to victory for the protection of female privacy in intimate public facilities in Hamilton, may be a long and steep one. It brings to mind some of the lyrics from the song, “Through the Fire”:

He never promised the cross would not get heavy
and the hill would not be hard to climb.
He never offered victory without fighting
but He said help would always come in time.
Just remember when you’re standing in the valley of decision
and the adversary says “give in”
just hold on, our Lord will show up
and He will take you through the fire again.

Setting good public policy, changing the structures that are creating casualties, and improving society are all substantial reasons why CHP Canada should contend for the application of Christian worldview principles in public policy and governance. If we as a political party are not doing this, what on earth are we doing?

I give God praise for His mighty intervention in Hamilton.

Help us stand up for freedom of speech in Canada, by joining and supporting the Christian Heritage Party; the only political party that is committed to defending our diminishing freedoms against erosion through special rights granted to special groups.

Comment on this Communiqué