QUESTION PERIOD — Veterans Affairs
Remembrance Day
November 19, 2024
Leader, over the past year, I have repeatedly asked the NDP-Liberals about the new directive banning prayer at Remembrance Day ceremonies. A written response regarding the committee struck to review this directive was sent to me last Friday. The answer shows the committee met twice over Microsoft Teams. There were no terms of reference for their work. They didn’t consult with anyone. And their report is for internal use only.
Leader, does this so-called review sound good enough for such an important change? Instead of uniting Canadians, why does your government always work to divide them, even with something as sacred as prayer on Remembrance Day?
Thank you for your question, Senator Plett. Let’s be clear about what is involved and what isn’t involved. What is certainly not involved is the government attempting to be divisive or to in any way undermine, disparage or denigrate the solemnity and importance of Remembrance Day which we all so proudly celebrate.
The Chaplain General issued his directive independently, and it does not ban prayer. Let me read to you what it says:
Chaplains shall endeavour to ensure that all feel included and able to participate in the reflection . . . no matter their beliefs . . . .
That is inclusive, not divisive. The directive simply seeks to help Canadian Armed Forces chaplains make their public addresses more inclusive to reflect our spiritual and religious diversity.
Senator Gold, at many services across the country, prayers were said for the fallen, which goes against the new directive, whether you believe it or not.
It is awful that I even have to ask this question: Do you commit, Senator Gold, that not a single chaplain who said a prayer or mentioned God during Remembrance Day ceremonies will be disciplined or fired, or is your government too morally corrupt to make that promise?
As I said, the Chaplain General issued the directive independently. It is not the business of this government — and I hope any government — to police the activities of our religious and spiritual leaders in events as solemn as Remembrance Day.
Leader, my question relates to this very topic. On November 8, Bishop Scott McCaig issued an open letter to his fellow military chaplains, where he confirmed the new directive banning public prayers by the chaplains who perform vital work for the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Bishop McCaig wrote that he is part of the committee that was struck last year to study “. . . the Spiritual Reflection Policy that prohibits the invocation of God by chaplains at mandatory military events.”
Leader, Minister Blair, who was in our chamber, claimed that no one in the NDP-Liberal government was behind the directive banning prayer. Even if that is true and there is an independent committee, why didn’t your government overturn that decision?
Senator, I’m not familiar with the document from which you quoted, but I can simply repeat that the information I have — and I read the actual directive to you — does not ban prayer.
Beyond that, I can only repeat that the position of the government is to respect the diversity of religious and spiritual viewpoints in our great country. In that regard, the directive that was issued independently by the Chaplain General simply attempted to do so.
The new directive banning public prayers has a section on enforcement. As Senator Plett indicated, it says that disciplinary actions may be taken against a chaplain who does not comply with the directive.
Have any such actions been initiated since Remembrance Day, leader? Is this something you can find out? If so, how many, what disciplinary actions do they entail and in which provinces?
Again, since there is such a clear difference between the information you’re bringing forward and that with which I have been provided, I will certainly raise this with the minister.
