Documents Show Human Rights Commission Received Widespread Criticism for Labeling Christmas as ‘Discriminatory’
The Canadian Human Rights Commission faced significant backlash after releasing a report last fall that labeled Christmas as a discriminatory holiday rooted in colonialism, prompting concerns about staff safety.
Parliament unanimously criticized the report’s portrayal of Christmas as discriminatory.
Although an employee from the Commission’s Policy, Research, and International Division authored the report, the author’s name was censored in records obtained via an Access to Information request by Blacklock’s Reporter. The redaction was carried out under section 17 of the Access to Information Act, citing concerns about individual safety.
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The Access to Information documents did not specify any particular threats that warranted the redaction due to safety concerns, as reported by Blacklock’s.
While the author’s name remains undisclosed, the documents reveal that the writer invested two years in revising the report.
The Commission’s Policy, Research, and International Division began crafting a discussion paper on religious intolerance in mid-2021. The paper underwent review by various stakeholders and committees before publication.
The report on religious intolerance criticized statutory holidays related to Christianity for being discriminatory, highlighting Canada’s settler colonial state identity as a root cause.
Despite mixed reactions to the report, with some praising it for its clarity and information, others, like MPs, expressed disapproval and introduced motions denouncing it.
He noted that the holiday fosters unity and goodwill, making it a cherished cultural gift from Christianity.
