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441-01291 (National defence and military operations)

Petition to the House of Commons

We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:

Whereas the Minister of National Defence Advisory Panel on Systemic Racism and Discrimination produced its final report in early 2022;

Whereas the report calls for clergy from religions which have a different view on gender and sexuality than the Department of National Defence to be banned as chaplains in the Canadian Armed Forces;

Whereas the report slanders even mainstream Canadian religions as discriminatory, misogynist, and sexist;

Whereas all Canadians, including members and chaplains of the Canadian Armed Forces, are entitled to the Charter-guaranteed right of freedom of religion;

Whereas Canadian Armed Forces chaplains serve all members of the Forces without distinction on the basis of religion, gender, or sexual orientation; and

Whereas discrimination on the basis of religion is wrong and offensive to Canadians.

Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to:

1. Reject the recommendations on chaplaincy in the Canadian Armed Forces in the final report of the Minister of National Defence Advisory Panel on Systemic Racism and Discrimination; and

2. Affirm the right of all Canadians, including Canadian Armed Forces chaplains, to freedom of religion.

Response by the Minister of National Defence

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Bryan May

Last April, the Minister’s Advisory Panel on Systemic Racism and Discrimination released a comprehensive set of recommendations to ensure Canada’s military is safe and welcoming for all. Work is underway to assess the implications of the Advisory Panel’s recommendations, including those on the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service, and the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff is coordinating an analysis of each recommendation.

The Royal Canadian Chaplain Service’s (RCChS) primary goal is the care of all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families, without exceptions. It is already the expectation that CAF chaplains uphold the values and ethos of the CAF, just like every other member of the military. When chaplains apply for their roles within the chaplaincy, they undergo a rigorous process to assess their ability to provide spiritual support within the context of CAF values. Anyone who successfully makes it through this assessment has demonstrated their ability to provide religious or spiritual counsel to CAF members of all or no faiths, without judgement or exception.

To this end, the RCChS continues to embrace CAF values and ethos, and has taken significant steps in the past several years to strengthen its commitment to diversity and inclusion. For example, as of 2019, in order to better serve the CAF and represent the religious/spiritual diversity of Canadian society, the RCChS sought to include a wider number of traditions not previously represented in CAF chaplaincy. This resulted in the enrollment of chaplains from Sikh, Buddhist, and Humanist traditions. The RCChS also shifted from the historical requirement of “ordained” status to a more broadly defined status of “credentialed as a faith tradition leader.” In doing so, the RCChS has ensured wider opportunities for women from faith traditions where they cannot be ordained, but who meet qualification standards for CAF chaplaincy as credentialed faith tradition leaders. This is already the case for Roman Catholic and Muslim women, currently serving in the RCChS, and will now be an option for women from other faith traditions.

To further promote diversity and inclusion, the RCChS has instituted several new advisor positions, including an Indigenous Advisor, 2SLGBTQi+ Advisor, Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Advisor, Gender Advisor, and Advisor to the Commander of Chief Professional Conduct and Culture (CPCC) in an effort to raise awareness, educate, and innovate. These advisors play a critical role in providing strategic input and advice to ensure direction and guidance, and programs integrate diverse perspectives with a view to enhancing inclusive engagement on behalf of the RCChS. 

The CAF continues to take positive steps to ensure that the chaplaincy represents Canadian society and supports the needs of its broader membership.

Presented to the House of Commons
Arnold Viersen (Peace River—Westlock)
March 31, 2023 (Petition No. 441-01291)
Government response tabled
May 15, 2023
Photo - Arnold Viersen
Peace River—Westlock
Conservative Caucus
Alberta

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.