Yesterday, politicians returned to the Legislative Assembly of BC. One of their first orders of business was a motion to condemn the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA).
Specifically, NDP MLA Rohini Arora moved:
That this House condemns the intolerant views of the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA), including its harmful discrimination against transgender people, its belief that homosexuality is “immoral” and its explicit policy goal of restricting abortion access in British Columbia.
ARPA is a Christian nationalist advocacy group that regularly intervenes in court cases, files briefs and lobbies politicians. It opposes LGBTQ2S+ rights, medical assistance in dying, abortion, in-vitro fertilization and even goes as far as to support corporal punishment of children.
In May, they hosted an informational table in the Legislature's "Hall of Honour" at the invitation of a Conservative MLA. We joined many voices around the province in condemning that move at the time.
The motion passed by a vote of 48 to 3 after Conservative MLAs were absent from the floor. All NDP and Green MLAs as well as independent Elenore Sturko voted for the motion (Sturko was recently expelled from the Conservative caucus). OneBC MLAs Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong and independent Jordan Kealy voted nay.
Many members spoke in favour of the motion and condemned ARPA from the floor. You can read the full transcript of the debates in Hansard starting at 11:10am.
Independent MLA Elenore Sturko:
But what isn’t okay is discrimination, using those concerns as a veil to deny dignity, safety or rights to British Columbians. ARPA doesn’t just advocate for their own views. They actively campaign against the fundamental rights of others. They oppose same-sex marriage, seek to restrict abortion access and undermine the dignity of transgender individuals.
When a political caucus invites such a group into the heart of our government not as private citizens but as influencers in a public forum, it sends a concerning message and elevates voices that aim to erode the equality and protections guaranteed under the law. In a democracy like ours, the Hall of Honour isn’t a private clubhouse. It’s a symbol of representation for every citizen.
Green MLA Rob Botterell:
I respect the right of all members of this House to have their own religious beliefs. I do not respect the right of any member to seek to enshrine their beliefs into law or to use them as a tool for spreading hate and disinformation.
...We must recognize the very real human harm caused by beliefs such as the ones perpetrated by ARPA that reinforce stigma and fuel discrimination. When an organization denies the humanity of others, it crosses the line and becomes a matter of public safety and public harm. A compassionate society cannot remain silent while harmful rhetoric seeks to erase the reality of others. These views are outdated, dangerous and do not uplift or unite us. They only divide us, and we do not need division. We need unity.
NDP MLA Steve Morissette:
I was raised Christian. I recognize the many positive contributions of Christianity that have bettered the fabric of our province. But I also know the fallibility of religious institutions of all kinds, and I know the sometimes appalling paths that they have taken.
Let me be clear. I support Christians, I support Buddhists, I support Muslims, I support Hindus, I support Sikhs — whatever faith or belief system people choose. But I draw the line when religion is used as a shield for hatred. I will call out hatred every single time. And this is one of those times.
Additionally, MLAs took to social media to support the motion. For example, NDP MLA and Minister of Housing Christine Boyle posted to X:
I'm a person of faith and an ordained minister. ARPA's views are incredibly harmful and don't represent most Christians.
— Christine Boyle (@christineeboyle) October 6, 2025
I stand with queer and trans folks, and for reproductive justice, and I hope every MLA does the same today. https://t.co/8UjVlbOMkL
After the motion passed, ARPA responded by doubling down:
While the motion itself was purely symbolic, it's reassuring to see many MLAs speak out against the bigotry and threats to our human rights posed by Christian nationalist groups like ARPA. As Rohini Arora said in her speech:
I’d like to say something directly to everyone out there who is affected by these hateful views — every member of the trans community, every person who loves whoever they love, no matter the gender, and every woman trying to make a difficult choice on whether to have a child or not: I’m with you, and the members of my caucus are with you. When hate and intolerance surfaces, we will speak out against it.