A motion to recognize the month of December as “Christian Heritage Month” was shut down in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu, who represents Sarnia–Lambton, introduced Bill C-369, the Christian Heritage Month Act, to the House of Commons last week.
This week, Gladu attempted to mark the month with a motion.
“Today is Christmas on the Hill and there have been discussions between the parties and I think if you seek it you will find unanimous consent for the following: The House designate December as Christian Heritage Month,” she said Wednesday.
However, the Speaker responded by saying, “unfortunately, I heard a member say no to that request for unanimous consent.”
NDP MP Charlie Angus, who represents the northern Ontario riding of Timmins—James Bay, opposed.
Gladu’s initial bill was introduced in response to a recent paper published by the Canadian Human Rights Commission that alleged that statutory holidays recognizing Christian religious dates are discriminatory.
“Discrimination against religious minorities in Canada is grounded in Canada’s history of colonialism,” reads the paper. “This history manifests itself in present-day systemic religious discrimination. An obvious example is statutory holidays in Canada.
However, Canadians who identify as Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews already have heritage months devoted to their various religions, noted Gladu.
“Statutory holidays related to Christianity, including Christmas and Easter, are the only Canadian statutory holidays linked to religious holy days.
The paper claims that because non-Christians have to make special requests if they wish to get time off for their religious events, recognizing Christian holidays is discriminatory.
“Canada is a country that celebrates all faiths,” said Gladu in the House. “It’s only fair and right that we would have a Christian heritage month since there’s (19.3) million Christians in Canada, according to the last census. And what better month to pick than December?”
According to a 2021 census, 53.3% of Canadians identified as Christian, which is a big drop from the 77.1% who identified as Christian in a 2001 census.
The CHRC paper was also addressed by Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet last week.
“According to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, celebrating Christmas with trees, family, music and gifts, that’s systemic racism,” said Blanchet. “I wonder whether Santa Claus is racist. I wonder whether snow has become racist. According to the prime minister, is Christmas racist?”
Speaker of the House Greg Fergus challenged Blanchet as to whether his questions should go to the government administration, to which Blanchet said that the CHRC is under the purview of the government and called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to answer the question.
“I’m very pleased to stand up and try to answer a totally ridiculous question,” answered Trudeau. “Obviously, Christmas is not racist. This is a country of diversity, a country that celebrates not just our personal individual beliefs but we share and celebrate the events of our neighbours too.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stood up after that exchange and wished everyone in the House of Commons a Merry Christmas and a Joyeux Noël.
