Marc Slingerland wants to work for a Canada that will provide future generations with plenty of opportunities. The life-long resident of Lethbridge is the Christian Heritage Party candidate for the Lethbridge riding in the 2025 federal election.
“Citizens of Lethbridge deserve an opportunity to vote for a candidate, a party, and a leader who are all committed to protection of human life from conception to natural death; to the critical importance of families as the foundation of a strong, stable society; and to the preservation of fundamental freedoms,” he says.
Slingerland notes that family is top of mind when asked about priorities in the region.
“Family is the foundation of society, and so policies to support and strengthen stable families are essential. Economic policy, like income splitting for taxation, must ensure that families are not penalized if one parent remains home to provide the best possible environment for raising children,” he states. “Social policy should prioritize childrens’ right to a mother and a father, and protect parental responsibility for moral and ethical formation of their children without state intrusion.”
On why constituents should vote for him, Slingerland says, “Canada has a rich heritage of freedom and prosperity thanks to its Judeo-Christian foundations, principles that recognize ‘the supremacy of God and the rule of law’ (to quote the preamble to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms). Social cohesion and economic strength have both been lost as these foundational principles have been undermined.”
“Citizens should vote for the CHP as a call for all parties to pursue policies based on the values that made Canada ‘glorious and free’, and can do so again!”
Slingerland says over the years, elections have become what he calls “bidding wars” with parties “making promises of ‘what government will do’”.
“Real dynamism and success, though, comes from individuals and organizations freed to apply their ideas and capacities to meet local needs, not from one-size-fits-all requirements,” he remarks.
“The federal government should focus on doing its limited but important job – including national defense and justice – well; voters should not look for big promises, but for who will best keep government limited to its proper place, without undue intrusion into other areas.”
Slingerland says throughout the door-knocking experience along the campaign trail, he has gathered from constituents that, “The predominant mood is one of uncertainty and apprehension”.
“U.S. tariffs are on everyone’s mind, but that’s just one part of a broader concern about affordability and the cost of living.”
Slingerland was asked about his stance on the ongoing trade war with the United States.
“To characterize it as a ‘trade war’ is unhelpful, setting us up for a tit-for-tat escalation that we cannot possibly ‘win’. Imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods only hurts Canadian consumers, contributing to further living cost increases,” he says.
“Canada must immediately take steps to secure our land borders and ports, cracking down on fentanyl and the cartels not just a leverage for tariffs, but in the interests of our own citizens’ safety. Meanwhile Canada’s own lagging productivity must be addressed, including by encouraging manufacturing in Canada and elimination of inter-provincial trade barriers.”
Regarding potential solutions to housing affordability and homelessness issues in the riding, Slingerland says, “Regulatory changes are critical”.
“Some aspects of this (restrictive zoning laws, market-distorting rent caps, etc.) belong to other orders of government, but the federal government should simplify and modify building codes to allow a greater variety of innovative designs. For market segments that can’t be adequately served by the private sector, low- or no-interest loans from the Bank of Canada should be made available to provinces, municipalities, and other local authorities for infrastructure to meet local needs,” he states.
Slingerland says costs of almost all goods are increased by taxes and regulations.
“All carbon taxes and levies should be eliminated, and the size and scope of government must be reduced – among other things, to pay down the national debt instead of wasting $125 million daily on interest costs as we do now! Further, the CHP would replace the federal income tax with a Fair Tax based on consumption, allowing you to keep your hard-earned salary and pay in taxes only what you determine by your spending choices,” he adds.
Electors will head to the polls for general voting day on Monday, April 28.
More on the 2025 federal election, including other candidate profiles, is available at MyLethbridgeNow.com.
