Christian Freedom Party of Canada

The Christian Freedom Party of Canada, also known as the Christian Freedom/Social Credit Party of Canada, was an unregistered Canadian political party that was active from 1988 to 1996. It grew out of the Social Credit Party of Canada and for most of its existence was registered under the Social Credit name.

Origins

In 1986, the Rev. Harvey Lainson defeated Holocaust denier Jim Keegstra to become leader of Canada's moribund Social Credit Party. Although Lainson ran on a right-wing platform, he was not associated with Keegstra's ideology.

After becoming Social Credit leader, Lainson rebranded the party as the Christian Freedom Party of Canada. According to its official literature, the party was centred on three principles: "God is creator of the universe," "the Bible is the Word of God," and "Jesus Christ is Lord." It also described the human individual as "the most important of all God's creations," and opposed any system of government that was considered to favour the rights of the state over the rights of the individual.

When evangelist Ken Campbell became leader of the Social Credit Party in 1990, he continued to describe it as the Christian Freedom Party in public addresses. For tax purposes, it was still called the Social Credit Party on official party documents.

Political activities in the 1990s

Campbell announced in 1992 that he would run as a Christian Freedom candidate in the next federal election, but that he had no intention of winning and simply wanted a platform to express his religious convictions.