Deputies in the House of Commons voted overwhelmingly against the Bloc’s proposal, which calls for the abolition of daily prayer – read before the parliamentary session – in favor of a moment of reflection.
The proposal, which was tabled in the House and debated on Tuesday, failed by 266 to 56 votes on Wednesday.
All MPs from the Bloc voted in favor of the proposal, as did MPs from the Green Party and most of the NDP group. All Conservatives voted against or abstained, as did all Liberals except Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.
The speaker, deputies and employees of the table are obliged to stand during the reading of the prayer, which is done before the doors of the hall are opened to the public and the press and before the cameras of the Chamber are turned on.
While the prayer, followed by a minute of silence, is usually an affair behind closed doors, the prayer was televised on October 23, 2014 – the day after the shooting at the National War Memorial and the Central Bloc of Parliament.
The prayer reads:
“Almighty God, we thank you for the great blessings that have been given to Canada and its citizens, including the gifts of freedom, opportunity, and peace that we enjoy. We pray for our sovereign, Queen Elizabeth and the Governor-General. Guide us in our debates as Members of Parliament and strengthen our awareness of our duties and responsibilities as Members. Give us wisdom, knowledge and understanding to preserve the blessings of this country for the benefit of all and to make good laws and wise decisions. Amen. “
The failure of the proposal to accept the Chamber was not surprising. During Tuesday’s debate, lawmakers from other major parties said they opposed the proposal, saying there were more pressing issues facing lawmakers.
Liberal MP Mark Garethsen said during the debate that the bloc has refused to explain why prayer is more important than other issues covering the country.
“I have never been raised on this subject, nor has a voter called me and said, ‘I want to talk to you, Mr Geretsen, about the prayer that is said every morning when the House begins at the beginning of the day.’ , he said.
It is not a problem, deputies say
Gerard Deltel, a Conservative MP representing Louis-Saint-Laurent in Quebec, told the House that it was the job of lawmakers to address critical issues facing Canadians.
“I may be wrong, but I think in my ride people are more concerned about inflation, about housing, about affordability. These are issues that are very worrying for all Canadians, “he said.
“I am not quite sure that the prayer we have to say here in the House of Commons outside the chamber is very important for our people we represent.
While most NDP lawmakers voted in favor of abolishing prayer, Charlie Angus, an Ontario lawmaker riding on Timins-James Bay, did not. During the debate, he also questioned the reasons for raising the issue.
“I would like to ask my esteemed colleague … how important it is at this time to discuss key issues that are important to the people, as opposed to the provisions in the House of Commons, which no one has ever paid attention to,” he said.
Prayer has been part of the House’s daily procedures since 1877 and was codified in standing orders in 1927.
In 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Quebec City Council in Sageney could not continue to open its prayers. The unanimous decision says that reciting a Catholic prayer at council meetings violates freedom of conscience and religion.
Following the decision, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson replaced the prayer at the beginning of City Council meetings with a moment of reflection. Parliament is protected by parliamentary privileges and is able to set its own rules.
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