The Township of Selwyn, Ontario, has agreed to drop prayers from future inaugural council meetings after a request by constitutional lawyer Donald Bur.
This decision comes as part of a broader initiative led by Bur and the BC Humanist Association (BCHA) to ensure municipalities across Ontario comply with the 2015 Supreme Court of Canada ruling in Mouvement laïque québécois v. Saguenay. That decision found that prayers in a municipal council meeting breached the state’s duty of religious neutrality under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
While the council had removed prayers from its regular council meetings following the Supreme Court’s decision, both Selwyn’s December 4, 2018, and November 22, 2022, inaugural council meetings featured a blessing from a Bridgenorth United Church reverend.
A Victory for Secularism in Ontario
Bur has been diligently writing to municipalities throughout Ontario identified by the BCHA as including prayers in their inaugural or regular council meetings. His efforts aim to uphold the constitutional duty of religious neutrality, ensuring that government meetings are inclusive and respectful of all citizens, regardless of their beliefs.
"We are pleased that the Township of Selwyn has chosen to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling and embrace secular practices in their council meetings," said Donald Bur. "This change not only aligns with the law but also promotes an inclusive environment where all community members can feel welcome and represented."
Selwyn is the latest municipality to respond to Bur. He’d previously received commitments from the Town of Oakville and the Townships of Rideau Lakes, Lanark Highlands and Wainfleet to keep future meetings secular.
BCHA's Ongoing Advocacy
In December 2022, the BCHA reported an alarming 47.6% of 2018 inaugural council meetings in Ontario included a prayer, highlighting widespread non-compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision.
Ian Bushfield, Executive Director of the BCHA, commented on the significance of Selwyn’s response:
"Selwyn’s decision is the latest in a string of municipalities modernizing their practices. It serves as a sign to those laggards who still engage in unconstitutional practices.”
Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Research Coordinator for the BCHA, emphasized the importance of secular governance:
“I am pleased to see the Township of Selwyn finally committing to upholding their duty of religious neutrality by discontinuing the unconstitutional practice of including prayers in their inaugural meetings. This is a significant step towards ensuring that all residents, regardless of their religious beliefs, or lack thereof, feel equally respected and included in our public spaces.”
Continued Efforts Across Ontario
The collaborative efforts of Bur and the BCHA are ongoing, with letters sent to multiple municipalities encouraging compliance with the Supreme Court's mandate. This proactive approach aims to foster a more inclusive and constitutionally sound environment in local governments throughout the province.
“Our goal is to see every municipality in Ontario—and indeed, Canada—respect the clear direction provided by the Supreme Court,” added Bushfield. “We will continue to advocate for religious neutrality at all levels of government.”
The BCHA recently declared British Columbia municipalities to be ‘prayer-free’ after they secured commitments to keep future meetings secular from the final seven communities identified as including prayers in the 2022 inaugural council meetings.
The BCHA is also calling on municipalities to proclaim April 15, 2025, as “Religious Neutrality Day” to mark the tenth anniversary of the Saguenay decision.
ASK YOUR COUNCIL TO PROCLAIM
RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY DAY
Banner image credit: By P199 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
January 31, 2025 Response from the Township of Selwyn
Mr. Bur
In response to your correspondence received on January 29, 2025, I can advise that the Township of Selwyn is aware of the Supreme Court ruling. On April 28, 2015 the Council at that time, passed a Resolution to implement the removal of an opening prayer from the Council meeting agenda and since this date there has been no opening prayer as part of the Council agenda.
It has been the tradition at the inaugural Council meeting to have a blessing made to commence the new term of Council. The blessings offered were intended as non-denominational messages of unity and encouragement to work together for the broader community. In future, the practice of offering a blessing will not be part of the Inaugural Council agenda. The Township will adopt a different approach to offer a message of community unity to avoid the impression of prayer being incorporated in this ceremonial meeting.
Trusting you will find this in order.
Angela Chittick
Manager of Community & Corporate Services /Clerk