(Ottawa) The Bloc Québécois motion to eliminate the prayer recited before the start of business in the House of Commons was defeated on Wednesday.
Posted at 3:43 p.m.
Updated at 4:40 p.m.
In all, 266 elected officials rejected it, including almost the entire Conservative caucus and Liberal caucus. Four New Democrats also voted against.
The leader of the New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh, of Sikh faith, supported the Bloc motion, as did Quebec MP Alexandre Boulerice. Only 56 elected officials voted in favour, including the Bloc Québécois MPs and most of the NDP caucus. Only one Liberal MP voted with them. This is Toronto MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.
“It will not have taken long for there to be enough Quebec roosters crowing for me to stop counting, but the result is clear,” reacted the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, to the outcome of the vote. “Canada is asserting itself as a religious country, as a monarchist country, values with which Quebecers obviously do not identify. »
However, the ten Conservative MPs from Quebec all voted against, as did most of the 35 elected Liberal Quebecers — Ministers François-Philippe Champagne and Mélanie Joly are traveling abroad.
Mr. Blanchet added that “Quebec values” and “the values of the House of Commons of Canada” are diametrically opposed. “This is the observation that we must make and it is the observation that Quebecers are called upon to make as well,” he said.
Bloc Québécois MP Martin Champoux tabled a motion on Tuesday to replace the reading of the prayer at the start of the House of Commons session with a two-minute moment of reflection by modifying the rules. He thus used one of the three opposition days of his formation to force a debate on secularism.
The other three main parties had argued that there were more pressing issues like rising inflation, the climate crisis and the war in Ukraine. The Liberals and New Democrats had assured that their MPs would be able to vote freely. The Conservatives who are against the motion should toe the party line.
House of Commons Prayer
“Almighty God, we thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed upon Canada and its citizens, including freedom, opportunity and peace. We pray for our Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, and the Governor General. Guide us in our deliberations as Members of Parliament and help us to be fully aware of our duties and responsibilities. Grant us the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that will enable us to preserve the favors enjoyed by our country for all to enjoy, as well as to make good laws and make wise decisions. Amen. »