Limiting expression

Several recent initiatives propose to limit or potentially penalize certain beliefs in Canadian law and policy, leading to concern this is an increasing trend.

In one of the more memorable examples, the 2018 Canada Summer Jobs grant program required an employer to attest to respect for certain values to participate in a government program. Many Canadians as well as churches and civil society organizations expressed deep concern to the government over this new requirement. In response the government removed the wording of respect for values in the attestation, replacing it with a statement that funding would not be used to undermine or restrict the exercise of rights.

More recently the government signalled its intention to remove charitable status from some prolife charities. There is concern that rather than address dishonest activity on a case-by-case basis, this initiative could instead target only a category of pro-life charities, based on their underlying beliefs, rather than holding all charities to a standard of honesty.

In January 2022 an advisory panel recommended to the defence minister that chaplains from certain faith groups be excluded from employment as military chaplains. Canada’s current multifaith approach to chaplaincy is unique and held as a model of how to organize chaplaincy in a country of deep religious plurality. Canadian military chaplains provide care for all military personnel and their families without discrimination or judgment. They do not proselytize or impose religious belief.

The emerging trend is to focus on people’s underlying beliefs instead of the work they actually do. The advisory panel’s recommendation is not addressing how or whether chaplains are providing services. It recommends excluding chaplains from employment on the basis of the religious tradition to which they belong.

Canada is a multicultural, multifaith society with a diversity of beliefs and opinions. Our diversity means it is inevitable we will disagree, and sometimes deeply. Disagreement should be allowed. In a free and democratic society, there must be robust freedom of speech. Tolerance and respect do not mean our views or beliefs are free from evaluation or critique, but that freedom of belief, opinion and expression are upheld.

The rights to believe, express yourself and disagree on issues are foundational to a vibrant democracy. People of faith expect to have those freedoms while we are committed to also extending them to those who disagree with religious belief.

The emerging trend is to focus on people’s underlying beliefs instead of the work they actually do.