This is the flip side of questions that free people must answer: “What do our freedoms mean to us? Are they worth fighting to retain or should we just pack up and acquiesce to the strident voices that place limits on what we can say or do?”

When I was a child, our family rule did not allow me to go swimming after eating, I was free to do many other things. My parents kept it simple and said, “Stay out of the water.” That was the limitation to my freedom to go out and play. They did not have to tell me, ”You can play in the cow’s pasture; you can play in the rowboat; you can climb the apple tree; etc.” They didn’t need to spell out what I could do. I knew my restriction; I couldn’t go swimming.

Naming what we’re allowed to do is different from naming what we’re not allowed to do. Naming what we may do restricts our freedom to the things that are named. Naming what we may not do, tells us we may do everything else.

Our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (CCRF) acknowledges our God-given freedoms. (You may go out and play.) Our Criminal Code places limits on our freedom. (You may not go swimming.)

Our CCRF tells us that we are free to speak about anything and everything. Section 19 of the Canadian Criminal Code tells us that, while we are free to speak, we may not incite people to violence or wilfully promote hatred toward any group. The freedoms we enjoy have a couple of logical restrictions but we are free to do everything else.

But, times are changing! We see restrictions and more restrictions placed on our freedom. We may not say anything that could hurt feelings. We may not say anything that expresses a judgement on actions. We may not say anything that makes someone feel bad about themselves. We may not speak the truth if that truth is offensive to some people.

Oh but wait! That’s contrary to the Criminal Code, which offers the following exception in Article 3.

(3) No person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2)

(a) if he establishes that the statements communicated were true;

Why do I bring that up?

CHP Canada along with CHP Hamilton Mountain have been told that they may not publicly question a municipal decision in the City of Hamilton. This restriction to our freedom is not found in our Charter. It’s not found in our Canada Criminal Code. But somewhere along the way, well, I guess it just works better if we don’t question our “betters.”

But where does restricting our freedom stop?

In Toronto, the Gay Pride Parade is, according to LifeSiteNews, “notorious for displays of nudity, lewd dancing, and raucous aping of sexual deviations such as sadomasochism, bondage, and cross-dressing — all of which were on display on a sunny July 3 in downtown Toronto.”

Of course, much of that is illegal under our Canadian Criminal Code Section 174 but our Prime Minister was there, the Ontario Premier was there, the Toronto Mayor was there, Conservative leaders, police officers, all present and participating in the flaunting of our Criminal Code.

Perhaps, laws are just suggestions when people don’t like them. Of course, that could be a problem in traffic situations. I get irritable if I have to stop at every traffic light because every single one of them turns red as I approach it. May I treat the red lights as suggestions?

Obviously, I’d be a fool to treat laws as suggestions but…why is it okay for our public nudity law to be flouted, especially when there are children present? Shouldn’t all the children be removed from the parade route to protect them from exposed genitalia, buttocks, whips, and chains?

Present at the 2016 Toronto Gay Pride Parade were some Canadian citizens handing out literature proclaiming the truth of the effects of this lifestyle. It’s not pretty but it is the truth! Sadly, the end result of trying to protect people from facing a life marred by sickness was met with a $104,000,000 lawsuit.

I know you’re wondering why, when CCC Section 19, Article 3 specifically allows for truth as a defence, there is a lawsuit for providing truthful information. Bill Whatcott and his compadres will find out as this lawsuit progresses. So far, we just know that they have been named in a lawsuit for handing out truthful literature. As a Canadian, I wonder why our Prime Minister is above the law when Magna Carta clearly established that EVERYONE was equally under the law. I wonder why our Premier, Mayors, political elite, and police officers are now above the law.

Back to one of the original questions…Are our freedoms worth fighting for? For some, like CHP Canada, CHP Hamilton, CHP members Bill Whatcott and Stefan Jetchick, and so many unnamed others, the answer is, “Yes!” It’s a tough battlefield and one where it’s easy to make a mistake as the “rules of engagement” aren’t clear and often change daily.

If we wish to retain our heritage for freedom and equality then we must be on the battlefield. The founding fathers of the Christian Heritage Party, recognized in our name the source of our freedoms…the heritage of which we are heirs.

If not you, then who? If not now, then when? There is a tipping point in all battles. Let’s ensure the tipping point brings us to the protection of our heritage rather than the destruction of our heritage.

Join CHP Canada today and help us win the battle for our freedom!

Action Item

CHP Canada and CHP Hamilton Mountain have committed to moving forward on the Judicial Review of the City of Hamilton’s decision to not allow the public to question their washroom policy. We appreciate all those who have already pledged support for this. We also humbly ask for others to consider supporting this legal action.

Your pledges can be sent by cheque payable to “CHP Canada” P.O. Box 4958, Station E, Ottawa, ON K1S 5J1. If there are concerns that you may surpass your $1525 limit to CHP Canada, then please send your cheque to CHP Hamilton Mountain, P.O. Box 30028, 1599 Upper James St., Hamilton, ON, L9B 0E4. You have an additional $1525 that you may donate to an EDA or Candidate.

Please indicate on the Memo Line, that this is for the Judicial Review.

If you prefer to donate online, you may go to www.chp.ca/donate. Please indicate in the “comments” that this is for the Judicial Review.

If you prefer to call national office, please call 1-888-868-3247. Sylvia is on vacation until Oct 3rd, so the calls will be sent directly to my phone. I will do my best to respond quickly; you can leave a message if you get the answering machine and I will return your call.

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