Studies in the UK show that private schools that can select students based on their religious affiliation are less diverse. humanists.uk/2026/04/17/r...
So why is the BC government supporting a system that promotes racial segregation?
As we've previously shown, these schools are predominantly religious, including ones that teach creationism and exclude LGBTQ2S+ students/staff.
We've long called for this funding to be cut and rolled back into the struggling public school system. www.bchumanist.ca/public_educa...
City of Vancouver Religious Neutrality Day Proclamation
City of Ottawa Religious Neutrality Day Proclamation
City of Toronto Religious Neutrality Day Proclamation
With help from local humanist groups, the Cities of Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver have all proclaimed April 15, 2026, as Religious Neutrality Day. This marks the 11th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada's Saguenay ruling that found prayers at municipal council meetings are unconstitutional.
Today is Religious Neutrality Day, 11 years since the MLQ v Saguenay decision.
To celebrate, we've released Lost in Translation, our critical analysis of Quebec's approach to laicity and its differences with the broader governmental duty of religious neutrality.
www.bchumanist.ca/laicity_risk...
On Monday, final arguments begin in the case challenging religious hospitals refusal to provide medical assistance in dying. We argue that the province is violating its duty of religious neutrality by contracting out services to religious service providers. www.bchumanist.ca/defending_re...
We're disappointed by the passage of Bill 13, but the debates show that MLAs heard your concerns. www.bchumanist.ca/bill_13_passes
Banning people from practicing their religion is inconsistent with secularism.
We're glad to see the end of funding for religious private schools but that's undermined by this law's assault on Quebecers' fundamental freedoms.
Alberta's 'bill is not a book ban' statement is raising a lot of questions already answered by their statement. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Amid so much global strife, conflict and misery, it's inspiring to watch a true human accomplishment like the Artemis II launch. 🚀
Western Standard Apr 1 article claiming Liberals plan to remove God from O Canada
Conservatives aren't funny, today's example
The memo is a joke, the ability for St Paul's to deny your access to abortion or MAID is sadly real
NEW: A leaked cabinet memo proposes a massive expansion to faith-based healthcare partnerships in BC. This is CODE RED for your right to religiously-neutral healthcare.
Take action today: Sign the petition demanding an end to religious healthcare opt-outs. www.bchumanist.ca/apr_1_2026
This is Christian Nationalism masquerading as "neutrality." This same Education Minister hasn't apologized for his Jesus-laden Christmas letter to every public school family. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Trans Day of Visibility image with BC Humanist Association logo
We see you, we love you, we fight for you. 🏳️⚧️
On this Trans Day of Visibility, we stand in solidarity against the assaults on trans rights across the globe. Even Canada is not isolated from reactive Christian nationalism. It's why we defend human rights and government religious neutrality.
China, North Korea and Vietnam remain officially atheist. That said, as Humanists, we are committed to universal human rights and freedoms, including freedom of thought, belief and religion.
www.bchumanist.ca/about_humanism
"Quebec’s situation is quite different. Restrictions on religious symbols are not the culmination of a long-standing secular doctrine. They are a contemporary response to selected expressions of religious pluralism."
Yesterday, we presented our arguments about religious neutrality at the Supreme Court of Canada in the Bill 21 case. Watch them on our website. www.bchumanist.ca/bill_21_scc_...
Even Wes McMillan, a lawyer for the BC Humanist Association, a pro-secular group, argued Quebec’s definition of secularism in Bill 21 goes too far. “When politics dominates religion, it's authoritarian. When religion dominates politics, it's theocratic. Canada is neither authoritarian nor theocratic,” McMillan said. “The decision in this case could carve a clear path for the imposition of state religion or state atheism. Either would be anathema to what Canada is and stands for."
From our arguments yesterday at the Supreme Court of Canada in the Bill 21 case, "When politics dominates religion, it's authoritarian. When religion dominates politics, it's theocratic. Canada is neither authoritarian nor theocratic."
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Thanks to the Mayor and City of Ottawa for proclaiming April 15, 2026, as Religious Neutrality Day!
A big shout-out to Humanist Ottawa for making this request. Ask your municipality for a similar proclamation.
Sorry we missed tagging you! Great work 💜
;) I run said legal clinic! We're on Bluesky at @juritrans.bsky.social!
The Court is reserving judgement and adjourning. Now we wait (possibly six months) for a decision.
"The Act uses state power to privilege non-belief over belief...which is fundamentally inconsistent with state neutrality."
"A great humanist, Albert Camus said, 'Democracy is not the law of the majority but the protection of the minority.'"
In Saguenay, wearing a religious symbol was not equivalent to proselytizing.
The risk of the notwithstanding clause completely disposing of religious freedom (and the duty of religious neutrality) is that a government could simply invoke S33 and establish a State Religion.
An interesting argument brought forth is an 1852 Act enshrines freedom of religion as an independent constitutional principle, which Bill 21 is inconsistent with.
We're now in closing arguments with the English Montreal School Board speaking first.
Finally Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice and Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic argue this use of the notwithstanding clause is inconsistent with S28 (multiculturalism). They argue S33 must be used "for the common good."
