This has been a busy week.
On Tuesday, we learned that Trinity Western University is making its controversial Community Covenant voluntary for students this fall. This follows the Supreme Court of Canada ruling that law societies in BC and Ontario were justified in refusing to recognizing a proposed law school at TWU due to the discriminatory nature of this Covenant. The school plans to maintain the restrictions for staff and faculty and they are also required to sign a Statement of Faith that offends any notion of academic freedom at the school.
On Wednesday, the federal government seemed to talk out both sides of their mouth as they announced plans to repeal restrictions on the so-called political activities of charities, while at the same time announcing that they intended to defend the rules in court. The repeal of these rules is long overdue and will hopefully be accompanied by a legal definition of charity that ends the automatic assumption that religious groups are inherently beneficial to the public.
And today we submitted our response to the provincial government's draft mental health and addictions strategy. There is still time to add your own voice, so please do so before tomorrow at 4pm.
In addition to that, at last Monday's board meeting (minutes are available online for current members) the Board approved a thorough issues summary that brings together the many positions the BCHA has taken and made it easier for you to become a member through a monthly donation.
All of this work is made possible through the support of individual donors. If you haven't, please consider becoming a member or making a donation today.
New on our website
News
- TWU abandons mandatory covenant
- Government takes both sides on charities' free speech
- Ensuring choice in addictions recovery
Podcast
Upcoming events
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 08:30 AM
- Secular Humanist Thinkers Cafe at Urban Fare Cafe Mission Park, Kelowna
Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 10:00 AM
- Vancouver Sunday Meeting: Oscar Zapata - Religious faith amid disasters at Oakridge Seniors Centre, Vancouver
Monday, August 27, 2018 at 07:00 PM
- Skeptics in the Pub at Tonics Pub, Kelowna
Sunday, September 02, 2018 at 10:00 AM
- Vancouver Sunday Meeting (Discussion TBC) at Oakridge Seniors Centre, Vancouver
Tuesday, September 04, 2018 at 08:30 AM
- Secular Humanist Thinkers Cafe at Urban Fare Cafe Mission Park, Kelowna