West Kelowna is one of seven municipalities identified by a secular organization for allowing prayer at a council meeting in contravention of a Supreme Court of Canada (SCOC) ruling.
A report by the BC Humanist Association (BCHA) states a prayer was offered by the Fire Department Chaplin during West Kelowna council91裸聊视频檚 inaugural meeting on Nov. 1, 2022, which is confirmed in meeting minutes on the city91裸聊视频檚 website.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e an organization committed to secular values,91裸聊视频� said Ian Bushfield, BCHA executive director. 91裸聊视频淧art of that is the separation of religion and government.91裸聊视频�
The report references a 2015 SCOC ruling that 91裸聊视频榦pening municipal council meetings with a prayer was an unconstitutional violation of the state91裸聊视频檚 duty of religious neutrality.91裸聊视频�
It stems from a 2006 complaint by a Saguenay, Quebec resident who raised a concern about the opening of municipal council meetings with prayer.
Bushfield said the report, titled 91裸聊视频榃e Yelled At Them Until They Stopped91裸聊视频�, is a result of research of inaugural council meetings across B.C. in 2018 and 2022.
Of 162 municipalities identified, 26 included prayers in 2018 and seven in 2022, which included West Kelowna, Vancouver, Delta, Colwood, Belcarra, Parksville, and Tumbler Ridge.
Bushfield added the BCHA has reached out to councils that have previously included religious invocations at inaugural meetings.
91裸聊视频淪ome gave the cursory 91裸聊视频榤essage has been received91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频ut a number have actually responded quite positively to us.91裸聊视频�
He said the BCHA has yet to reach out to West Kelowna council but will do so soon. 91裸聊视频淎long with the others we identified, we91裸聊视频檒l also do a follow-up with all municipalities before the 2026 inaugurals.91裸聊视频�
Some councils have updated their bylaws or will no longer include prayers at inaugural meetings, Bushfield added.
Black Press contacted the City of West Kelowna for comment and received an emailed statement.
91裸聊视频淲e appreciate the feedback and have noted it for council and staff consideration.91裸聊视频�
The report also noted a significant increase in Indigenous content at council meetings, rising from 39 per cent in 2018 to 72 per cent in 2022.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a complex thing that we don91裸聊视频檛 have strong recommendations on but we are exploring,91裸聊视频� Bushfield said. 91裸聊视频淲e want to make sure we91裸聊视频檙e sensitive to all of the history and importance of reconciliation.91裸聊视频�
Bushfield added the BCHA is pleased to see the growth in these practices and hopes municipalities follow up symbolic measures with substantive action.
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