Press Release Sept 24, 2010 CHP Candidates Focus on Canadian Identity and Values at Houston Meeting [caption id="attachment_1120" align="alignleft" width="717" caption="Mike Schouten in Houston"][/caption] Visiting CHP candidate Mike Schouten from the BC lower mainland electoral district of South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale joined local Skeena-Bulkley Valley CHP candidate Rod Taylor at a general meeting of the CHP membership in Houston on Friday night at the Houston Seniors' Centre. Mr. Schouten, father of 5 children and employed in a greenhouse / garden centre in Cloverdale, spoke of Canada's lengthy history of Christian values as being the foundation of the freedoms, the prosperity and benefits which all Canadians share. He mentioned the need for Canadians to rally to preserve those freedoms and to ensure that the cultural values of strong families and safe communities are passed on to future generations. He spoke of the determination of the Prime Minister to avoid discussion of important issues like abortion, human rights abuses and the cultural threats posed by radical Islam. Mr. Schouten, a former Conservative, left that party after seeing by a "shift from principles to pragmatism" and is convinced that party discipline is muzzling the efforts of social conservatives within the big-tent Conservative Party. He has since organized a new electoral district association for the Christian Heritage Party of Canada and will represent CHP Canada in the next federal election. Local candidate Rod Taylor, who also serves as CHP Canada's deputy leader, thanked the membership for their strong support in the past, encouraged them with news of party growth and asked local members to continue to set an example. "The North will lead!" he said, noting that there are many others throughout Canada who also care deeply about the protection of life, the preservation of personal freedoms and a return to responsible fiscal policies. He said that the CHP was the only "truly conservative" party left in Canada, noting that the federal government has grown in size and cost by 42% since the Conservatives have been in power. He cited the ballooning federal debt as evidence that Stephen Harper has sacrificed the sound fiscal policies he once espoused. "Our government is borrowing $135 million dollars every day and the responsibility for that debt will fall on our children and grandchildren," he said.