Vancouver, BC – A new report from the BC Humanist Association (BCHA), The Island Anomaly, reveals Prince Edward Island (PEI) as the most compliant province studied to date in adhering to the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2015 Saguenay ruling. The comprehensive study found only one instance of unconstitutional prayer in PEI municipalities with populations over 1,000, which occurred during a 2022 inaugural council meeting in Summerside.
The Saguenay decision declared the practice of opening municipal council meetings with a prayer unconstitutional, emphasizing the state’s duty of religious neutrality to ensure public spaces are free from discrimination and open to all, regardless of faith or lack thereof.
The BCHA's detailed survey of agendas, minutes, and video recordings across PEI municipalities found no instances of prayer in regular council meetings, either currently or prior to the Saguenay decision. This stands in contrast to other provinces where prayer was historically, and in some cases still, prevalent.
"Prince Edward Island's record on municipal prayer is truly remarkable and heartening," said Ian Bushfield, BCHA Executive Director and one of the report's authors. "The Saguenay Project aims to ensure that all Canadians feel welcome and included in their local government meetings, and PEI provides an encouraging example of how municipalities can uphold religious neutrality."
The sole identified unconstitutional prayer occurred in Summerside's 2022 inaugural council meeting. While this prayer was delivered by a Christian minister, it was notably delivered by a woman, contrasting with other provinces where such prayers are disproportionately given by men. The ceremony also featured a historical Bible, which was used for the every councilor and the mayor's oaths of office.
"The Saguenay ruling made it clear that public authorities have a duty of religious neutrality, which means abstaining from taking a position on issues relating to religion. In addition to prohibiting the inclusion of prayer in municipal council meetings, this must also extend to ceremonial elements, like showcasing a historic Bible at an inaugural meeting. This can subtly coerce individuals into religious participation," stated Dr Teale Phelps Bondaroff, BCHA Research Coordinator and co-author of the report. "While historic artifacts can have value, their active use in civic ceremonies can undermine true neutrality by creating a preferential space for those with specific religious beliefs. We encourage municipalities to ensure secular affirmations are genuinely offered as an equal option, without any implied pressure to use a religious text."
The BCHA wrote to Summerside to encourage future compliance, but has not yet received a reply.
This report is the eighth in the BC Humanist Association’s ongoing Saguenay Project, which continues to audit and promote compliance with the Supreme Court of Canada's decision across Canada. The BCHA reiterates its call for all local governments to eliminate prayer from council meetings and uphold their duty of religious neutrality, ensuring inclusivity for all residents.
About the BC Humanist Association
Since 1984, the British Columbia Humanist Association has provided a community and a voice for Humanists, atheists, agnostics, and the non-religious in BC. Humanism is a worldview that promotes human dignity without belief in a higher power. As a registered charitable organization, the BCHA promotes progressive and secular values and challenges religious privilege. The research for this project was funded by members of the BC Humanist Association and in part by a Canada Summer Jobs grant.