VANCOUVER, April 20, 2010 (CHP)—Jim Hnatiuk, leader of Christian Heritage Party of Canada, has sharply criticized Prime Minister Stephen Harper for throwing the weight of his office against a Bill introduced by one of his own back-benchers.

The Prime Minister said over the weekend he will order the Cabinet to vote against Bill C-510 by Winnipeg South MP Rod Bruinooge. The private member's bill, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (coercion),is also known as "Roxanne's Law."

Noting that the Prime Minister's spokesman, Andrew MacDougall, has said the PM would compel his cabinet ministers to vote against Mr. Bruinooge's private member's bill, Mr. Hnatiuk mused, "Perhaps we need legislation to protect MPs from coercion, too."

"This was supposed to be a 'conservative' government. But we usually associate such high-handed action with those on the left," said Hnatiuk. "The Prime Minister's dictatorial stance denies 36 ridings a free vote for their MPs."

That some Conservative members have difficulty with such an attitude is apparent by former executive members of Conservative Electoral District Associations (EDAs) now joining CHP Canada. In eastern Canada, past Alliance EDA executive Hilda Stevens has joined CHP Canada and serves as Interim President for Nova Scotia; in central Canada, G.J. Rancourt, former candidate hopeful and member of the Conservative executive of his EDA, is now candidate and CEO for CHP Canada in his EDA; in western Canada, past executive member in his Conservative EDA, Frank Hilliard, is now energetically building for CHP Canada.

Mr. Hnatiuk reflected, "In light of Mr. Harper's unbending attitude, we expect to be welcoming many more Conservative Party members to CHP Canada."