September 21, 2026
Revisiting Unconstitutional Prayers in Ontario Municipalities
For the second time, the BCHA has audited the prevalence of prayers in Ontario municipal council meetings. Consistent with our previous study, we limited our scope to those municipalities with a population over 1,000 according to the 2021 Census (n=360).
Of the 359 municipalities for which data were available, 62 (17.3%) included prayers in their 2022 inaugural meetings. While this is a sharp decline since 2018, it remains the highest percentage across all provinces.
We additionally identified two (0.6% of 356 municipalities for which data were available) municipalities - Laurentian Valley and Pembroke - that routinely included prayer in their regular council meetings.
The report further delves into the variety of secular practices, like moments of silence, and Indigenous content and practices being used to solemnize municipal council meetings. We document the impacts of advocacy since our last foray into Ontario practices, and urge municipalities to ensure the inaugural council meetings after the upcoming 2026 local elections are secular and consistent with the legal duty of religious neutrality.
Municipalities with prayers in regular council meetings
Two municipalities opened their regular council meetings with prayers.
- In Laurentian Valley, Mayor Steve Bennett opens each council meeting by reciting the Lord's Prayer.
- Pembroke also opened council meetings with the Lord's Prayer until February 2020. After which, the mayor now opens with "I'd ask that everyone please take a moment to please stand for an opening prayer and/or reflection before opening this meeting of council. I would ask those who wish, each in your own way, to silently join in a prayer of guidance over these proceedings. Thank you.”
Map of all prayers identified
The Saguenay Project
The BC Humanist Association has been auditing municipal compliance with the 2015 Saguenay decision. "Amen, Again!" is our tenth report in The Saguenay Project and our second time analyzing Ontario municipalities.
Learn more about The Saguenay Project and support our continued work defending the state's duty of religious neutrality.