Summary

Shortly after Mississauga Mayor Caroline Parrish assumed office in June 2024, HPHC board members became aware that her Declaration of Office (inauguration) ceremony included prayers delivered by an Islamic Imam and an Orthodox Priest.

In 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada made a ruling enjoining municipal councils from reciting prayers.

Out of concern that the inaugural meeting prayers could reflect a retreat by Mississauga from its observance of the Court's ruling until now, HPHC wrote to the City Clerk to express concern and request clarification regarding the City’s view on the issue.

E-mail to Mississauga City

[August 7, 2024]

 

Dear Ms. Diana Rusnov,

 

Having viewed a recording {1} of Mayor Carolyn Parrish’s Declaration of Office ceremony on June 24, 2024, we are writing to inquire about the City of Mississauga’s views on the inclusion of Islamic and Christian blessings and prayers at the event.

We understand that municipal councils and similar bodies throughout Canada are bound by the ruling of the 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision in the Saguenay City case {2} in which the Court ordered that city (see para 164) “to cease the recitation of the prayer in the chambers where the municipal council meets”.

Clearly the Declaration of Office ceremony constitutes a “Special Council meeting”. While the blessings or prayers were not recited by municipal officers or employees, the individuals reciting these prayers and giving “blessings” volunteered or were invited to do so and included in the agenda or program by officers or employees of the municipal council.

Of note in this matter is that Mayor Parrish, then Ward 5 Councilor, was a leading supporter of the Supreme Court 2015 decision saying then that City Hall is a workplace and not a place of worship adding “[The decision] respects all religions and relegates prayer to its appropriate place – in private and in places of worship where all share the same beliefs” {3}.

I am writing in my capacity as President of the Halton Peel Humanist Community {4}. As humanists, we are of the view that separation of religion and state must be upheld in all levels of government to ensure equality and fairness for all and are therefore concerned that starting the Special Council Meeting with prayers is a step back by the City of Mississauga in abiding by the ruling of the Court in its intent, if not in fact.

We are interested in the City’s views on the matter. We are confident that the City is not engaging in a conscious disregard of the Court’s decision, but would be interested to know what, in its view, is prohibited pursuant to Saguenay 2015 and what is not.

We appreciate your consideration and clarification of this matter.

Yours truly,

Kelly Bogart
President, Halton Peel Humanist Community

NOTES:
1. https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/Players/ISIStandAlonePlayer.aspx?Id=72cfb75f-a77d-48cd-8a54-43a075c5762f
2. Mouvement laïque québécois v. Saguenay (City), 2015 SCC 16 (CanLII), [2015] 2 SCR 3, <https://canlii.ca/t/gh67c>, retrieved on 2024-07-24
3. https://www.mississauga.com/news/supreme-court-ruling-could-spell-end-to-lord-s-prayer-at-mississauga-council/article_4e3b5322-9201-53f5-b417-d4c6664540b5.html
4. For information about the Halton Peel Humanist Community, see http://hp-hc.ca

Response by Mississauga City

[September 26, 2024]

 

Dear Ms. Bogart:
Thank you for your email of August 7, 2024.

We agree with you on the importance of the 2015 decision by the Supreme Court of Canada in the case of Mouvement laïque québécois v. Saguenay (City) 2015 SCC 16. That case involved the routine practice by the City of Saguenay and its Mayor of reciting a catholic prayer at the start of every municipal council’s public meetings. The court ruled that Saguenay’s practice with respect to the prayer is incompatible with the state’s duty of religious neutrality. In other words, the prayer creates a distinction, exclusion and preference based on religion that has the effect of impairing the complainant’s right to full and equal exercise of his freedom of conscience and religion. As you know, the City of Mississauga discontinued its practice of opening its council meetings with a prayer on April 29, 2015 and in that regard, we believe the City has been and continues to be in full alignment with the Saguenay ruling.

The Declaration of Office ceremony on June 24, 2024 was in fact a special meeting of council and you will note the meeting did not open with a prayer. The two individuals who gave their blessings at the meeting were not representing City Council but were in fact representing their respective cultural communities when the blessings were offered. They chose to communicate to council and to the public through prayers. City staff didn’t view this form of communication as a breach of the Saguenay ruling because it didn’t involve a routine prayer practice initiated by city council. However, having said that we can certainly appreciate your concerns. We realize that it’s possible the blessings offered at the June 24th ceremony may have created the perception in the community that religion was returning to city council meetings. We can confirm to you this is not the case. In fact, on a go forward basis, the City Clerk’s office will ensure that in addition to the requirements of the Saguenay ruling, members of the public who are invited to speak or make deputations are advised in advance not to include any religious prayer in their oral communications. This will remove any lingering perception that somehow religious prayer is making a return to council meetings.

Your email highlighted an important point and we’re glad you’ve brought it to our attention. We hope this response addresses your concerns and those of the Halton Peel Humanist Community.

Thank you,
Diana