Over the summer, ARPA Canada will be re-posting an old blog or article each Thursday. We hope that you enjoy these blasts from the past as we re-live some of the major content, issues, and campaigns of ARPA’s past 15 years.
This article was originally published shortly after the 2008 federal election which returned Conservative Prime Minister Stephan Harper to power with another minority government. How might have voting intentions in the Reformed community changed in the past 15 years?
The results of the federal election make a big difference in how this country will be governed in the years to come. So how did the Reformed church community vote? The ARPA election poll received 280 responses over the past few weeks and serves a good indication of how many in the Reformed churches vote.
Of course there is no way that this poll can be seen as an objective analysis of the Reformed vote. There are many people who come to our website as a result of a search engine result and have absolutely no connection to the Reformed community.
The most visible result of the poll is that the respondents are split almost evenly between the Christian Heritage Party and the Conservatives. The CHP has its roots in the Reformed churches in this country. That may explain why it tends to get much more support within our churches than in the broader Christian community. Studies seem to indicate that most Roman Catholics and mainline Protestants vote about the same as the rest of the Canadian population, leaning towards left-wing parties. Evangelicals tend to vote Conservative. Undoubtedly the Conservatives resonate with many in the Reformed churches because of their general regard for smaller government and because many MP’s within the party are strong Christians and speak out in protection of the unborn and the traditional family unit.
Overall, the support for the Conservatives seems to be slipping among Reformed Christians in part because the party has made a number of decisions which indicate that it is willing to compromise and change its principles to win votes and appeal to as broad a demographic as possible. But they are still seen as a better alternative then the other mainstream parties, some of which have a history of advocating policies such as the decriminalization of marijuana, prostitution, and euthanasia. There seems to be almost no support for the Liberal, NDP, or Green parties. It would be surprising if more than a handful of those who voted for them in the ARPA poll were from Reformed churches. This reflects the widespread small “c” conservative ideology among Reformed churches. Our view of human nature and the role of government makes us very leery of most parties on the left.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the Reformed vote over the next decade. The CHP has always struggled with the reality of our current electoral system. Their success likely depends on the sucess of electoral reform in this country. With a vote coming up in BC in 2009 to reconsider proportional represention, it may not be too long before other provinces, and eventually the federal government, get on board. The CHP and other ideological parties will no doubt benefit. In other words, we can probably expect the same type of vote for years to come, possibly with the CHP growing in support over time. Regardless of which party you support, now is the time to get involved. Your skills and interest, along with your Christian worldview, can make a big difference in shaping how these parties grow and change over the years.
Four ridings across the country (in BC, Quebec, and Nova Scotia) have new MP’s. In Nova Scotia, Christian Heritage Party of Canada leader Jim Hnatiuk and a team of CHP supporters from across the country ran an ambitious campaign against his rivals Scott Armstrong (Conservative), Mark Austin (NDP), and others. Hnatiuk wound up in 5th place, close behind the Green Party candidate. Click here for the results of each of the ridings.
Election 2008 has resulted in a Parliament that looks very similar to the previous one. The Conservatives have a new mandate to govern. The Liberals losses have translated into some gains for the Conservatives and NDP but otherwise there have been few changes. The Green Party failed to achieve a seat. The Christian Heritage Party seems to have maintained its meager position, in sixth place as a party but far behind the fifth place Greens in popular vote.
All of that is visible and obvious. What is not visible is all of the excellent work that has gone on behind the scene in towns and cities across the country by Christians who care about this country. Kudos to those brave individuals who ran for office, to those who volunteered and donated towards quality candidates, and to those who informed their churches and communities about where their candidates stood on the issues. Your efforts have made a big difference, even if it may not be visible.
Unfortunately about a dozen key pro-life and pro-family MP’s have retired. It looks like a few have also lost their seats. It remains uncertain where the new MP’s stand. Voter turn-out has not been confirmed yet but it looks like it has reached a historic low. All of this is leading to more voices in favour of proportional representation, which generally increases voter turn-out and results in a Parliament that better reflects Canadians. May God bless this 40th Parliament so that justice can reign in this land.
By John Jalsevac
October 9, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – As the Conservatives continue to fall in the polls, party leader Stephen Harper has again extended the olive branch to social liberals, announcing his intention to abandon Conservative plans to cut tax credits for films deemed to be offensive or not in the public’s best interest.
JANE TABER Globe and Mail Update – September 29, 2008
OTTAWA — Stephen Harper is ruling out re-opening a debate over abortion law for a future Conservative government, saying today there are too many other important issues to manage.“We have a lot of challenges in front of the country,” the Conservative leader said this morning during an announcement about arts and fitness funding for children. “We have a difficult world economy as we all know. That has to be the focus of the government and I simply have no intention of ever making the abortion question a focus of my political career.”
He said that some of his caucus members would like him to do so, and so would some Liberals: “But, I have not done that in my entire political career. Don’t intend to start now.” [Keep reading this article by clicking here.]
Student Vote Canada is a non-profit organization that is trying to promote democratic action among Canadian youth. They are providing a free package of resources for schools across the country so that students can participate in their own election. The package includes ballots, posters, ballot boxes, and lesson plans. This is an excellent way to engage students in Canadian politics – learn more here. Hurry – registration closes September 26 at 5:00 pm!
CALGARY, Sept. 22, 2008 (CHPNews) – The sixth-largest of Canada’s federal political parties is going to court to ask that all registered parties be included in the television debates next month. There are 18 registered federal parties and one eligible for registration. The Christian Heritage Party applied to be included in the Leaders’ Debates Sept 11, after the Green Party had been added to the roster. The consortium of broadcasters organizing the debates turned down the CHP’s request Sept. 16, giving no reason. (more…)Matthew Coutts, National Post – September 15, 2008
A propensity for Roman Catholics to vote for the Liberal Party, while their Protestant counterparts lean toward the Conservatives, may no longer be as evident as once believed by Canadian political scientists and those studying voting tendencies, according to a new study.
The study, conducted by the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion and Policy (LISPOP), found that Catholics and Protestants from less-strict denominations such as the United Church and Anglicans, exhibited nearly identical voting patterns in the most recent federal election.
The real difference in voting habits comes from more evangelical Protestant denominations, which overwhelmingly flock to the Conservative vote, LISPOP found. Keep reading this story here.
These questionnaires have been prepared by Chatham ARPA and Langley ARPA and may be of use for you in your riding. A questionnaire can be a very effective way to inform your local churches about where the candidates stand on issues that matter to you. Remind the candidates how many people in your riding will be reading their answers!
“You have a widening gulf between the electorate and the people running for office” says Jim Hughes
By Steve Jalsevac
OTTAWA, September 15, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Last week, LifeSiteNews interviewed Campaign Life Coalition National President and International Right to Life Vice President Jim Hughes about his organization’s involvement in the Canadian federal election now underway. The extensive interview, in which Hughes gives frank comments about the Canadian political scene, is being presented in two parts. See Part II in tomorrow’s LifeSiteNews.