POLL: Top court decision on prayer could open door to change

The City of Prince Albert is reviewing whether it will continue to have a non-denominational prayer read aloud before the start of council meetings in the wake of a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling.

On Wednesday, the high court unanimously ruled that the Quebec city of Saguenay could not continue to have a Catholic prayer read out before its council meetings begin. 

In giving its decision, the Supreme Court explained that the state has a duty to uphold religious neutrality, which means the state should not interfere in religion and beliefs. The state must remain neutral.

“The prayer recited by the municipal council in breach of the state’s duty of neutrality resulted in a distinction, exclusion and preference based on religion — that is, based on S’s [the appellant’s] sincere atheism — which, in combination with the circumstances in which the prayer was recited, turned the meetings into a preferential space for people with theistic beliefs,” the court ruled.

In Prince Albert, where the prayer is non denominational, the City plans to review the court’s decision.

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“All we’re doing today is collecting information and getting a legal opinion on the court decision,” Mayor Greg Dionne said on Thursday.

He said the city solicitor has been asked to review the court decision and provide a report.

But he said he doesn’t have an issue with the prayer read before city council meetings in Prince Albert because it’s inclusive.

“The one in Quebec was more a Roman Catholic prayer and service. So that’s why we want to review – was that the issue? Was it because it just addressed that one denomination? Because ours is more all inclusive.”

“Oh God, let us each in our own way ask your wisdom and guidance in our deliberations. Help us to incorporate into all our decisions those values which will enable us to fulfill our mission to act as responsible stewards, and to responsible stewards, and to respect and value the cultural and spiritual traditions of citizens of the City of Prince Albert. For this we pray. Amen.” – City council prayer

Other Canadian cities, such as Regina, have moved to stop the practice.

Another central Saskatchewan city, Melfort, doesn’t read a prayer before its meetings. According to Mayor Rick Lang, it’s hasn’t been a part of the process for the more than 11 years he’s been in elected office.

Another major city, Ottawa, has stopped reading the prayer as it reviews the court decision. Ottawa’s City Council typically includes a prayer followed by a minute of silence..

The moment of silence is something the executive of the Prince Albert Multicultural Council thinks is a possibility.

“You could imagine how that could be very inclusive, because people could say a prayer however they wanted to, themselves or not. And that would be extremely inclusive,” said Shayne Lazarowich.

Inclusiveness is a reality in our society, according to Lazarowich. Prince Albert has always been very multicultural and diverse. If certain policies don’t reflect that, then we need to take a look at that, he added.

“It would be great if people can look at this as a positive sort of opportunity to make our policies and stuff more inclusive rather than attacking that and saying ‘oh we’re trying to take away this or this.’ I don’t think that’s the case.”

He gave the example of Prema Arsiradam’s challenge to the City to improve tolerance. Since then, he’s heard negative comments directed at Arsiradam’s message, and he added sometimes people miss the point.  

Arsiradam challenged the City to improve tolerance, particularly towards aboriginals, as well as improve housing.

“Talking about change, and talking about improving our situation is never negative,” he said, saying what he saw was someone standing up and talking about an opportunity to bring about change.

“This opportunity that we have, although it might be a small thing, a prayer at the beginning of city council, maybe that’s something we can change positively.”

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames