Know Your Fringe Parties IX -- The Peoples' Political Power Party of Canada

From the fertile plains of Manitoba, and its bustling hub, Winnipeg, comes The Peoples' Political Power Party of Canada, founded in 2005. Under the leadership of Roger Poisson, the PPP stands up for strong family values, a Canada that is inclusive, an end to poverty, and a serious focus on redressing First Nations issues. Extending 'hearts and wheat stalks' to all Canadians, the PPP externalizes the virtues of "peace, love, equality, and respect" as its hallmark values.

"Be part of making Canada Honest, Strong and Free" trumpets the party's homepage. And carrying the banner on the hustings are two Manitoba candidates -- party leader Roger Poisson in Winnipeg North, and Charles Prefontaine in Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette.

The party profile on canada.com identifies the party as an aboriginal party. It is fair to say that this characterization is partly correct. While the PPP is strongly committed to aboriginal issues, and practices an active outreach for aboriginal membership, it casts its message more broadly into social and national issues that concern Canadians generally. The party is very clearly oriented around traditional family and community values, blending the best of both native and Christian heritage. Think of it in terms of the Family Coalition Party meeting the First Peoples' National Party and shaking hands. The blending of these deeply held perspectives becomes instantly clear upon viewing the PPP's policies and platform. Here are a few key examples:

1. Women in Society

We will ban any form of dissection of the value of women, be it through pornography in any form, in prostitution, or in forcing women into sexual ventures in order to survive. We will deem, that obstacles to morality are criminal activities.

Education will be offered to the nation concerning the true beauty and value of motherliness in all women. This new respect of women will re-establish a new and beautiful environment – in the homes, in the communities and in the federation that is Canada. Marriage will be understood as a privileged union, with a result of the creation and protection of a child or children.

The family will be re-built and re-born.

2. First Nations Issues

We will work with First Nation people to establish good housing, clean water and more than just the basic necessities for survival. We will return to them their dignity and desire for a fulfilling life in Canada.

It is not sufficient to pay out land claims and monies for Residential Schools, which could further aggravate situations in keeping people secluded from the unity of which we speak. We will make these things happen by everyone walking together, learning from each other and throwing away the arrogance of the past.

3. Poverty

The elite are in minority. The poor and the ‘becoming poor’ are in majority: it is they who will speak on election day, with no money power to manipulate the destiny of the majority.

4. Return of the Seventh Day as Family Day

Every family will have an opportunity to sit together, to strengthen each
other, to worship as they please or not. Businesses will be closed, except for emergency services.

[...]

Canada must become a family where we will have role models in young men wanting to look after their families, their mothers and fathers…and young women - dreaming up happiness by the reality of the example of their own family structure - to continue the legacy of a true marriage between people - and their nation.

5. Eliminating the Welfare System by Strengthening Family and Social Services

Respect for women and the family are the key to ending the welfare system. Family Services or social agencies, that would put people on the streets
with children, will be deemed criminally responsible. Provincial transfer
payments from Ottawa will be eliminated towards provinces involved in such
activities.

6. Emptying the Prisons

Crime reduction begins by giving hope to everyone through the restructuring of the family, through respect of women. When there is no need for radical ventures outside the home, all problems that affect society and require dependence on its agencies, will diminish greatly.

7. War and Peace

Terrorism will disappear because we will take the time to listen to the distress of others and find solutions for living peacefully. One’s faith is to be in
moral value, seen through moral actions, rather than in the words one speaks.

This is a taste. It sort of goes on and on like that. But the central themes are unmistakable. Strong supports for family, women, communities, and young people. While much of it may seem idealistic, and certainly much of it is, it would be a little jaundiced to dismiss this platform out of hand. After all, it is becoming more ingrained in mainstream thought that many of the social problems affecting society today (on and off reserves) -- be they problems of poverty, substance abuse, crime, gang activity, etc., etc., -- share a common denominator of family dysfunction, absent fathers, violence against women and children, lack of community supports. Both the left and right are coming slowly to a consensus on this. There may be a Utopian tinge to the PPP's orthodoxy, but what they are really calling for is a paradigm shift in the way we think about and approach social issues in politics.

The PPP internest site invites folks and communities to put up their billboard. Well, I'm a sucker for invitations, and so I'll do them a good turn and consider this space for the moment to be a billboard.