Today, the British Columbia Humanist Association (BCHA) is marking the tenth anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada’s historic MLQ v Saguenay decision with the release of its latest report, “Prayer Free BC.” This report declares British Columbia to be free of prayer in regular municipal council meetings. This landmark achievement follows years of dedicated research and advocacy by the BCHA through its Saguenay Project.
The report, the seventh in the BCHA’s The Saguenay Project auditing and promoting compliance with the 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision in MLQ v Saguenay, reveals that after a thorough review of the agendas and minutes of every municipal council in BC, no instances of prayer were found in regular council meetings across three years (2022, 2023 and 2024).
This victory builds upon the BCHA’s previous successes in reducing the inclusion of unconstitutional prayer in inaugural council meetings. Following the identification of seven BC municipalities that included prayer in their 2022 inaugural meetings, the BCHA and its legal counsel engaged in direct correspondence with these municipalities. As a result of this advocacy, all seven municipalities provided acknowledgements of wrongdoing and/or commitments to discontinue the practice in future inaugural meetings.
Prayer Free BC was co-authored by Dr Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Research Coordinator, and Ian Bushfield, Executive Director, of the BC Humanist Association.
"We're releasing this report on the tenth anniversary of the Saguenay decision to underscore the profound impact of that ruling and the importance of our ongoing work," stated Ian Bushfield. "This report confirms the power of secular advocacy. We have worked tirelessly for years to ensure that everyone can participate in their local democracy without fear of religious exclusion. Declaring BC municipalities 'prayer free' is a historic moment and a testament to our commitment to promoting the duty of religious neutrality."
The Saguenay decision, delivered on April 15, 2015, established a clear duty of religious neutrality for the state, affirming that municipalities cannot engage in practices that favour one belief over others. The BCHA’s Saguenay Project has been instrumental in monitoring and challenging violations of this ruling across Canada. While BC has achieved this significant milestone, the report highlights that prayer continues to be included in some municipal council meetings in other provinces.
"While we celebrate this achievement in British Columbia, particularly on this significant anniversary, our work is not finished," emphasized Dr Teale Phelps Bondaroff. "The Saguenay Project continues to uncover violations of religious neutrality across the country. Furthermore, our report identifies emerging issues such as religious displays on public property, quasi-official prayer breakfasts, and problematic proclamation requests that require ongoing attention to ensure the full realization of a truly secular and inclusive public sphere."
The report also notes the increasing prevalence of territorial acknowledgements in BC municipal council meetings, a practice the BCHA welcomes as a symbolic step towards reconciliation.
Recognizing the tenth anniversary of the Saguenay decision, the City of Vancouver proclaimed April 15, 2025, as "Religious Neutrality Day."
The BCHA and its supporters requested similar proclamations from municipalities across the country.
As part of Religious Neutrality Day, the BCHA is hosting a livestream discussion about the Saguenay decision and the findings of The Saguenay Project at 12:00 PM PDT. Watch it here.