As we begin to return to Parliament on November 22 in Ottawa, a question arises: will there still be a recitation of a prayer at the start of each sitting of the House of Commons?
Let us recall that at the beginning of each working session of the House of Commons, the Speaker of the House reads a prayer to the Members and to the clerks present before opening the doors to the public. 1 This prayer which begins with “Almighty God, we thank you for the many graces you have granted to Canada and its citizens…” echoes the foundations of the Constitution Act, 1982 which states at the outset: “Whereas Canada is founded on principles which recognize the supremacy of God …”
However, the compulsory recitation and listening of this prayer undermines the religious neutrality of the State and constitutes a lack of respect with regard to the freedom of conscience of the deputies and clerks present, however protected by our charters.
Freedom of conscience is defined as the freedom to believe or not to believe. It is the right to choose the values, principles, opinions, beliefs (including religions) that motivate our existence. The obligation to attend this prayer contravenes this right.
During the debate on prayer at the municipal council of the City of Saguenay in 2015, the Supreme Court ruled as follows: “Prayer has a religious character and that, by its recitation, the City and its mayor promote a religious belief in to the detriment of others, which contravenes the State’s obligation of neutrality. The court also concludes that the prayer and the display of religious symbols engender a more than negligible or insignificant infringement of the freedom of conscience and religion and that this infringement is discriminatory ”.
A discussion left hanging
The leaders of the three federal opposition parties at the time, namely Elizabeth May of the Green Party, Thomas Mulcair of the NDP and Justin Trudeau of the Liberal Party, therefore took note of the judgment that same year and expressed the wish to find a way to proceed that respects the individual rights of all, while being in favor of a moment of meditation at the beginning of each session. In contrast, at least three members of the then Harper Conservative government (including ministers Maxime Bernier and Peter Mackay) spoke in favor of keeping prayer in the House of Commons. As the elections were called a few months later in the fall of 2015, this discussion remained in abeyance.
It should be remembered here that, unlike municipal councils, legislative assemblies and Parliament in Ottawa enjoy parliamentary privilege and are therefore not required to submit to the decisions of the Supreme Court. To change a rule of the House, such as the recitation of the prayer, the decision must be made by consensus or by simple majority vote, on a motion proposed by a Member. 2
This is what the Bloc Québécois did in 2019, when it tabled a motion3 asking for the replacement of the daily prayer marking the beginning of work in the House of Commons by a moment of meditation. However, both the Liberals and the Conservatives opposed it. How then can we believe in the real religious neutrality of the Canadian Parliament?
How can non-believing Members of Parliament signal that the recitation of the prayer infringes their freedom of conscience? Getting up and going out?
Perhaps, but that would inevitably create two classes of Members… and disrupt the functioning of the House. While waiting for the end of the prayer before entering the House of Commons? This could create significant delays in the proceedings of the House since a minimum number of deputies (quorum) must be present before the recitation of the prayer.
Remember that the proportion of non-believers continues to grow in Canada4 : it went from 4.4% in 1971 to 23.9% in 2011 (the results of the 2021 census are forthcoming). It is high time that our politicians took note of this and act in a way that ensures true religious neutrality of the state.
Let us hope that, with respect for all Canadian citizens, a lasting solution can be found and adopted at the start of the new parliamentary session in Ottawa.
1. Read the procedure and customs in the House of Commons 2. Consult the rules of parliamentary procedure 3. Read the motion of the Bloc Québécois 4. Consult the statistical portrait of religions in Canada What do you think? Express your opinion