Editorial: Bill C-9 and why religious freedom still matters in Canada

Canada was built on the idea people should be free to believe, or not believe, without government interference. From the country’s earliest days, religious freedom helped shape our communities. Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith groups helped build schools, hospitals and charities which still serve Canadians today. This was possible because the state did not control belief and belief did not control the state.

That balance is now being questioned by Bill C-9.

Supporters of Bill C-9 describe it as a routine update to federal rules. However, many Canadians see it as part of a larger trend where government is becoming more involved in areas touching personal conscience and faith. The concern is about regulation, and even more about where the line is drawn.

A key part of Canada’s success has been the separation of church and state. This does not mean religion has no place in public life. It means the government should not tell people what to believe, teach or preach. At the same time, religious groups should not run the government. This separation protects everyone.

Bill C-9 risks weakening that protection. By giving the government more authority over faith-based organizations, the bill raises fears religious beliefs could be judged by political or philosophical standards. When the government starts deciding which beliefs are acceptable, religious freedom is no longer that, instead it becomes limited, to say the least, rather than guaranteed.

Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms clearly protects freedom of conscience and religion. These rights exist to stop the government from interfering in deeply personal matters. Freedom of religion includes the right to hold unpopular beliefs or beliefs which still go against current social trends. Without that protection, freedom is reduced to permission.

Faith communities are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for fairness. They want the same freedom promised to all Canadians: the ability to live and serve according to their beliefs without impediment or fear of punishment. A truly diverse country makes room for differences, even uncomfortable ones.

History shows, freedom is often lost slowly. Laws do not necessarily need to ban religion outright to silence it. Unclear rules and the threat of penalties can lead people to stay quiet rather than speak honestly. Mutual honesty muzzled, wow. Over time, silence becomes the norm. This is not a way to peace, but a kind of oppression.

Canada was founded by people who wanted freedom from state-controlled belief. Religious freedom allowed different communities to live side by side in peace, in mutual respect for that choice. That principle should not be weakened, even lightly.

Parliament should take a step back. Any law affecting basic freedoms deserves careful thought and open debate. Bill C-9 may not openly attack religious freedom, but its impact could still limit it, setting a precedent for future erosion in the same vein.

Religious freedom and the separation of church and state go hand in hand. They protect individual rights, keep government power in check, and allow diversity to thrive. If Canada forgets this, it risks losing one of the central values which helped build the nation.