(Ottawa) The Bloc Québécois believes that it is time to put an end to the reading of a prayer at the opening of each sitting of the House of Commons and proposes to replace this tradition with a “moment of reflection”.
Posted at 8:50 a.m.
The political party will take advantage of its opposition day on Tuesday to present a motion to this effect, which would modify the rules of the House of Commons.
Its wording explains that the change is justified because the House “respects the beliefs and non-beliefs of all parliamentarians and the population”.
It also mentions the “attachment to the principle of separation of religion and State, to the diversity of opinions and to freedom of conscience”, as well as respect for “secularism and the religious neutrality of the State and for the sake of inclusion”.
Before each session, the president takes his place in the chair and recites a prayer partly in French and partly in English. Members must remain standing during this time.
The prayer begins with the words “Almighty God” and ends with “Amen”.
The work of the House must begin two minutes after the reading of the prayer according to the rules. It was then that the doors were opened and the televising of the proceedings began.
The reading of a prayer at the beginning of each sitting has been part of the business of the House of Commons since 1877, but has only been a standing order since 1927.