ANALYSIS: The Increasing Limitations on Christians in Canada

Examination: The Growing Restrictions on Christians in Canada

March 31, 2024 TruthUSA

A social media post dated March 29 from Veterans Affairs Canada created controversy among politicians and veterans by wishing veterans a “happy March holiday season.” Concern arose about the deliberate renaming of the Christian Easter holiday.

Conservative MP Michael Barrett questioned, “Is Veterans Affairs too woke to acknowledge either the cultural or religious significance of Easter?” He emphasized that 53% of Canadians are Christian and that wishing a Happy Easter should not cause offense.

There has been an observation of growing instances where Christians feel marginalized in Canada in recent times.

Canada is ranked as the third-worst persecutor of Christians among Western nations according to the 2024 edition of a report on the “intensifying intolerance toward Christians in the West.” The report was published in January by the Family Research Council, based in the U.S. The Center for Religious Liberty of the council documented incidents of discrimination, with 36 recorded in Canada between 2020 and 2023, fewer than the United States with 58 and the United Kingdom with 43.

Citing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Constitution Act of 1982, it states that “Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.” The charter guarantees freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association.

Life Issues

In March, Montreal’s Roman Catholic archdiocese sought exemption from a Quebec law that required all palliative care centers in the province to provide medical assistance in dying (MAID). St. Raphael’s palliative care center, located in a former church owned by the archdiocese, was prohibited from offering MAID under its lease.

On March 1, Quebec Superior Court Justice Catherine Piché rejected the request, emphasizing that Quebecers have the fundamental right to choose their medical care. She emphasized that religious beliefs hold less legal weight in such matters.